Son’s big night lifts LAFC to 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake

SALT LAKE CITY — In Major League Soccer’s return from the international break a week ago, Son Heung-Min found the back of the net for his first MLS goal as Los Angeles FC returned to league play with a 3-0 win over the LA Galaxy.

On Wednesday night, he did a lot more.

Son scored a goal, had a second assist on another, and delivered a cross that deflected in for a third as Los Angeles FC cruised to a 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

Lukas Engel scored for Real Salt Lake, his first since moving to RSL (8-5-2, 26 points) from Middlesbrough on a two-year deal, as Salt Lake out-shot the hosts 27-11 while conceding just three shots on target.

The visitors had as many corner kicks (11) as LAFC did shots, while putting seven shots on frame against LAFC.

But chances are only half the battle; it’s the moments those chances come — and what teams make of them — that often determines outcomes.

“This is where the details are at,” said RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni, whose team fell to 7-1-1 all-time against LAFC in the City of Angels. “Goals change games, and even at 3-1 if we score another one, now it’s game on. But the game of football is a game of moments; it doesn’t pardon anyone if you don’t do the right things.

“There is a lot to be optimistic about, but we’ve got to have a steely mindset when we go on the road.”

How LAFC held off Real Salt Lake to pull away for win

Diego Luna returned to the starting lineup in MLS play for the first time since May 9 against FC Dallas, while designated player Morgan Guilavogui also returned to the first-choice 11.

As healthy as Salt Lake has been in a while following a month-long international break for the FIFA men’s World Cup, Real Salt Lake closely monitored the Angelenos’ form in transition moments, as  Mastroeni noted before traveling to Southern California.

But that’s where LAFC struck first through Son in the 11th minute. The South Korean superstar finished a goal in back-to-back matches, finishing a counter from Jacob Shaffelburg inside the bottom left corner to give the hosts an early advantage.

Goals in back-to-back games for Son Heung-min 🔥

📺 Apple TV: https://t.co/eKrF9LxoZS pic.twitter.com/6nFBOZg3fU

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 23, 2026

It wasn’t a traditional transition play, but one RSL imposed on itself, Mastroeni noted.

“We’re going on the road, and defensively we’ve got to be dialed in,” he said. “There were a couple of plays where we tried to jog out 30 yards to try to put pressure on these guys … and put us in compromising situations. That essentially becomes transition, because now you have guys recovering.”

Denis Bouanga doubled the advantage in the 40th minute, latching on to a transition through ball from Mathieu Choiniere (via Son) to put the Angelenos up 2-0.

The second assist adds to Son’s league-high 10 assists of the season as LAFC out-shot Salt Lake 10-5 in the first half with just two shots on goal apiece.

But the visitors found the front foot after the break.

Moments after striker Victor Olatunji entered as a second-half substitute — and nearly pulled one back with a header in the 68th minute — Son hit a cross in transition that caromed off DeAndre Yedlin to stretch Los Angeles’ lead to 3-0.

Engel pulled one back in the 86th minute for RSL, connecting with his left foot after newly signed Saba Lobjanidze delivered a corner kick to prevent the shutout.

“I think 90 percent of the game was really good … and then we got three situations wrong, and they got three goals,” Engel said. “We lost the game in the two boxes, really. They made the most out of their chances, and we didn’t.”

It’s the first goal contribution for Lobjanidze since the 31-year-old Georgian international was moved to Salt Lake from Atlanta United on July 1.

Lobjanidze played the final 12 minutes, took one shot and stepped up to five of RSL’s 11 corner kicks.

“It was by far his best performance, and I think for him, it was just about getting the cobwebs out and understanding the position,” Mastroeni said. “He did so many great things tonight, and was a real bright spot in the changes that we made.

“I couldn’t be more proud of him. It’s been a struggle for him; moves like this aren’t easy. But tonight he showed his class, showed his level, and that he’s really capable of producing for our group.”

Lukas Engel tallies one for Salt Lake! pic.twitter.com/3itohKubD8

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 23, 2026

Next up

LAFC inched up to third place in the Western Conference with win, now 4 points ahead of fourth-place Salt Lake (which is tied with FC Dallas on 26 points).

Real Salt Lake plays the second of three-straight road matches Saturday at the Portland Timbers. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. MT on Apple TV.

The Utah outfit will then travel to St. Louis for an MLS match Aug. 1 at 6:30 p.m. MT before returning to Sandy to host three-straight Leagues Cup matches against Liga MX squads Tigres, Atlante and FC Juarez.