Son Heung-Min scored the first goal of his MLS career, giving LAFC a 1-0 lead over FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas on Saturday night.
The goal came on a free kick awarded in the sixth minute. Son didn’t miss the opportunity presented to him, launching a kick over the wall and into the upper left corner of the goal for a beautiful score. He appeared to have even surprised himself with the goal, judging by his jubilant reaction.
LAFC’s lead lasted nearly seven minutes until Logan Farrington tied the score with a kick from near the penalty arc, catching goalkeeper Hugo Lloris leaning to his left as the shot soared to the open right of the goal.
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Son, 33, left Tottenham Hotspur approximately three weeks ago for an MLS-record transfer fee of a reported $26 million, according to ESPN. That fee exceeded the $22 million which Atlanta United reportedly paid to Middlesbrough for Emmanuel Latte Lath in February.
However, LAFC was willing to pay such an exorbitant fee, believing that a Korean star playing in Los Angeles would create significant marketing exposure, sponsorship revenue and international broadcasting rights, according to the Los Angeles Times. He is the ninth Korean player to join MLS and the fourth to play this season.
The club viewed Son’s addition as yielding a similar benefit to Shohei Ohtani‘s impact with Japanese and general baseball fans for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Prior to the transfer, Son played 10 seasons for the Spurs. Tottenham’s captain since 2023, he scored 173 goals across competitions, ranking fifth on the club’s all-time list. He also has the seventh-most appearances in the club’s history with 454 across competitions.
In May, Son also helped lead Tottenham to the UEFA Europa League title, winning the club’s first major trophy in nearly 20 years.
Winning the Europa League title made Son feel that he needed “a new environment for a fresh challenge,” he said at his introductory news conference for LAFC.