South Korea star Son Heung-min made his Major League Soccer debut for Los Angeles FC Saturday, offering a burst of vitality as a second-half substitute in a 2-2 draw with the Fire in Chicago.
Son drew a penalty in the 77th minute that new teammate Denis Bouanga transformed to clinch the draw in the 81st minute — VAR confirming the spot kick after the referee initially let play proceed.
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“Obviously it was definitely contact and it was definitely a penalty, I have no doubt about it,” mentioned Son, who was despatched sprawling in the world by Carlos Teran after getting free on a breakaway.
“And, yeah, we tied the game, but I think we should have won this game (so) a little bit disappointed.”
In addition to drawing the penalty, Son had three pictures on objective — all saved with relative ease by Fire keeper Chris Brady.
Son signed with LAFC on Wednesday for a reported MLS report $26 million switch payment after a decade with Tottenham in the Premier League — the place he turned a family identify.
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The South Korea captain had introduced simply the earlier Saturday in his homeland that he can be leaving Spurs.
He departed as Tottenham’s fifth-highest goalscorer of all time with 173 objectives in 454 appearances.
Son’s first probability to play in entrance of residence followers in Los Angeles will come towards Western Conference leaders San Diego on August 31.
But loads of his jerseys, South Korean flags and indicators welcoming him to MLS have been dotted across the Fire’s SeatGeek Stadium and cheers greeted his entry in place of David Martinez in the 61st minute with the groups stage at 1-1.
Jonathan Bamba put Chicago up 2-1 in the seventieth minute. Teran had opened the scoring in the eleventh with a header off a nook kick.
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Eight minutes later Ryan Hollingshead nodded in off a nook kick to tug LAFC stage at 1-1.
Son had mentioned at his introductory press convention on Wednesday that he felt preventing match and wished to get on the pitch “as soon as possible.”
His arrival reunites him with former Tottenham teammate Hugo Lloris, the French goalkeeper who mentioned the South Korean will make a “big impact.”
“It’s great for the league, great for the city, great for the club,” Lloris mentioned.
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