Son Heung-min set a new career milestone by providing as many as four assists in a single match. It was a perfect performance that dominated the game without scoring.
Son Heung-min recorded four assists in the first half alone and led LAFC to a big victory against Orlando City in the sixth round of the 2026 MLS at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on the 5th (Korea time). Four assists in one match is a first in his personal career.
Starting as the center forward, Son Heung-min registered his first assist in the 20th minute of the first half on a counterattack. After dribbling forward near the halfway line, he delivered an accurate pass to Buanga, who cut in and finished with a chip over the goalkeeper.
Just three minutes later another decisive moment came. In an attack that started in the LAFC half, Son Heung-min threaded a through pass to the advancing Buanga, and Buanga beat a defender and scored with a right-footed shot.
The momentum continued. In the 28th minute of the first half, after intercepting the opponent's ball in front of the arc, in the attack that followed Son Heung-min again passed to Buanga, and Buanga finished to complete their third combined goal.
The fourth assist also came from Son Heung-min's boots. In the 40th minute of the first half, after receiving a pass from Buanga, Son Heung-min cut down the right flank and played a cutback into the box, which Sergi Palencia converted into a goal.
Earlier in the seventh minute of the first half, Son Heung-min's cross hit an opposing defender and resulted in an own goal. As a result, all five goals in the first half began from Son Heung-min's actions.
With the game flow completely tilted, Son Heung-min was substituted in the 12th minute of the second half. It was a decision to manage his fitness considering the midweek CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Cruz Azul. LAFC then added an extra goal from Tyler Boyd to complete a 6-0 rout.
Postgame evaluations also highlighted Son Heung-min's influence. Statistical outlet FotMob awarded Son Heung-min the top rating of 9.8 instead of Buanga, who scored a hat trick. He led the attacking play with an 85% pass completion rate, creating five chances and two big chances.
Another statistical outlet gave Buanga a perfect score and Son Heung-min 9.4, but the prevailing assessment is that Son Heung-min was the central influence on the game.
With the four assists added that day, Son Heung-min has seven assists in MLS and rose to the top of the assists category.
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