Vancouver: Son Heung-min netted two goals to force extra time but missed a penalty, as his Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) fell to 10-man Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the shootout in the Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup Playoffs.
According to Yonhap News Agency, LAFC was down 2-0 at halftime when the South Korean superstar scored a brace in the second half, pushing the Western Conference semifinals at BC Place into extra time. Despite LAFC hitting the woodwork multiple times during the 30-minute extra period, the match proceeded to penalties.
Son, the first taker for LAFC, hit the right post, while Sebastian Berhalter converted his kick for Vancouver. After both teams' second kickers scored, LAFC's third taker, Mark Delgado, missed the net, and Ryan Gauld scored for Vancouver, giving the home side a 3-1 advantage. Andrew Moran scored for LAFC, and their goalkeeper Hugo Lloris saved Edier Ocampo's kick, keeping LAFC's hopes alive. Frankie Amaya converted his kick for LAFC to level the score at 3-3 briefly, but Mathias Laborda scored as the final taker, securing Vancouver's 4-3 win on penalties.
Vancouver will face the winner of the other semifinal match between San Diego FC and Minnesota United FC in the conference final. LAFC, who eliminated Vancouver in the past two postseasons, were aiming for their first MLS Cup title since 2022.
Vancouver scored first in the 39th minute. Goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka launched a long kick to Emmanuel Sabbi, who split LAFC defenders Nkosi Tafari and Eddie Segura before scoring over Hugo Lloris. Laborda doubled the lead during stoppage time, scoring off a rebound after Thomas Muller's header was saved by Lloris.
LAFC's offense struggled against Vancouver in the first half, but Son's effort in a goalmouth scramble reduced the lead just before the hour mark. After Moran headed down a Delgado cross, Son's initial shot was saved, but he eventually scored with his left foot to make it 2-1. Son equalized with a free kick during stoppage time, curling the ball into the top left corner after Bouanga won a free kick and Tristan Blackmon was sent off for his second yellow card.
Bouanga hit the woodwork three times in the closing moments of extra time, and LAFC lamented those missed opportunities as they exited in the shootout. Son, who joined LAFC in August from Tottenham Hotspur, ended his first MLS season with nine goals in 10 regular-season matches and three goals in three playoff games.
This match was billed as a clash between new MLS icons Son and Muller, a Bayern Munich legend who joined Vancouver in August. This was the 13th meeting between the two players, with Son only securing one win over Muller, which came during South Korea's 2-0 victory over Germany in the 2018 FIFA World Cup group stage.