Son Heung-min Scores First LA Derby Goal as LAFC Beat LA Galaxy 3-0

Son Heung-min scored his first goal of the 2026 MLS regular season as Los Angeles Football Club defeated the LA Galaxy 3-0 in El Tráfico at Dignity Health Sports Park. The Son LA Derby Goal came in Son’s debut appearance in the rivalry fixture and completed LAFC’s scoring in the second half.¹

LAFC’s official recap said the July 17, 2026 match was both clubs’ first MLS game after the FIFA World Cup break. Mark Delgado scored in the 26th minute, Denis Bouanga converted a penalty before halftime, and Son finished from the top of the penalty area in the 58th minute.²

Son Scores First MLS Goal of 2026

Son Heung-min first 2026 MLS regular season goal El Trafico concept

The goal carried clear context for Son’s season. MLSsoccer.com reported that it was his first goal of the 2026 MLS regular season after 13 league games and 45 shots without scoring. The same report noted that LAFC moved to 27 points and third place in the Western Conference with the victory.¹

Korean-language coverage described the scoring move as beginning with Son attacking from the right side before moving centrally, exchanging passes with Mark Delgado, and scoring with his right foot. HanKyoreh’s report via Daum said Son started the regular-season away match against the LA Galaxy, scored LAFC’s third goal in the 12th minute of the second half, and was substituted in the 75th minute.³

Newspim’s account also placed the goal in the 12th minute after halftime and described the move as involving Mathieu Choinière and Delgado before Son struck a low right-footed shot. The outlet reported LAFC’s record after the win as eight victories, three draws and five losses, with 27 points in the Western Conference.⁴

The available reports are consistent on the central match facts: Son started, scored LAFC’s third goal, and LAFC won 3-0. The sources describe the goal time in slightly different formats, with LAFC listing it in the 58th minute and Korean reports referring to the 12th minute of the second half. Both refer to the same second-half finish.

LAFC Build Lead Before Son’s Finish

LAFC took control before halftime through Delgado and Bouanga. Delgado opened the scoring in the 26th minute, and Bouanga added the second goal from the penalty spot before the interval. Son’s second-half strike then set the final margin at 3-0.²

The result was LAFC’s return to MLS competition after the World Cup break. The club’s official recap emphasized the scoring order and venue, confirming the match was played at Dignity Health Sports Park and that Son’s goal was his first MLS goal of the season.²

MLS also published an official highlights page for LA Galaxy vs. LAFC from July 17, 2026. The page identifies a 10:28 highlights package featuring Son’s first goal in the El Tráfico win and lists a separate one-minute clip for Son’s goal, labeled as a 57th-minute score.⁵

The match report from MLSsoccer.com framed the goal as a notable moment in Son’s first El Tráfico appearance. Son said, “The derby is always really special,” and added that LAFC “fully deserve three points.” Marc Dos Santos also addressed the goal after the match, saying, “I’m very happy Sonny scored.”¹

Standings Impact for LAFC

The 3-0 win gave LAFC three points in a rivalry match and lifted the club to third place in the Western Conference, based on the MLSsoccer.com match report.¹ The result also aligned with Newspim’s reported record of 8-3-5 after the victory.⁴

LAFC’s official account added one further season note: Son’s first MLS goal of 2026 came while he also had a league-high nine assists.² The provided source material does not include a full match statistical summary, so the confirmed details center on the scoreline, scorers, goal timing, venue, standings position and selected post-match comments.

The match leaves LAFC with a confirmed 3-0 El Tráfico win and gives Son his first league goal of the 2026 season after a scoreless run in MLS play. With Delgado, Bouanga and Son all on the scoresheet, LAFC returned from the FIFA World Cup break with a result that moved the club to 27 points and third in the Western Conference.