Los Angeles takes down Real Salt Lake on the road

Los Angeles FC traveled to Utah to face Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, earning a 4-1 win.

It only took forward Son Heung-Min three minutes to open the scoring for LAFC. A mistake by a Real Salt Lake midfielder led to LAFC midfielder Timothy Tillman pouncing on a loose ball and immediately finding the South Korean international for a breakaway goal.

Son found a second goal in the 16th minute after getting into open space beyond the 18-yard box and firing a shot into the bottom right corner.

Real Salt Lake had an opportunity to get one goal back in the 55th minute, as they were awarded a penalty kick following some clumsy challenges by LAFC defenders. Real Salt Lake striker Rwan Cruz couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity, as the ball knocked off the right post and deflected into the arms of LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Real Salt Lake did manage to make the match interesting in the 76th minute following a scissor-kick by midfielder Zavier Gozo, but more magic from Son would allow LAFC to hold on.

Son completed his hat trick in the 82nd minute, icing the game late with a 3-1 scoreline.

Winger Denis Bouanga made LAFC history in the 88th minute of the match after finishing a breakaway goal, making him LAFC’s all-time leading goalscorer.

The win now brings LAFC to 47 points through 28 games, good for fourth place in the Western Conference standings. The Black and Gold shuffled past the Seattle Sounders and are only five points behind the third-place Vancouver Whitecaps.

Despite the match result and early lead, Real Salt Lake outdid LAFC on the stats sheet, metrics the Black and Gold will look to improve as they travel back home to rematch Real Salt Lake on Sunday.