Son Heung-min ended a 273-day scoring drought on Friday night as LAFC returned from the World Cup break with a 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy in El Trafico.
Son had not scored since the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs. After South Korea exited the World Cup in the group stage, the forward delivered one of his strongest performances in months as LAFC controlled the nationally televised derby.
World Cup returnees drove LAFC's attack
Jacob Shaffelburg created the opening goal by finding space near the touchline and crossing for Mark Delgado. The midfielder scored against his former club and gave the visitors control of the match.
Denis Bouanga converted a penalty for his seventh goal of the season. Son initially appeared ready to take the kick, but later explained that he was acting as a decoy and engaging with Galaxy players so LAFC's established penalty taker could prepare without distraction.
Mathieu Choiniere completed the scoring by setting up Son in the 57th minute. The goal ended Son's long drought and gave LAFC a clean-sheet victory in its first match after the break.
Son described the derby as a special occasion and said the combination of scoring, winning and keeping a clean sheet could strengthen the team's confidence during the second half of the season.
LAFC produced a rare road win in the rivalry
The result was only LAFC's second victory as the visiting team in El Trafico. It was also the largest winning margin by either club since the Galaxy recorded a 3-0 victory in 2020.
LAFC manager Marc Dos Santos rates the matchup as MLS's leading rivalry. He has also coached Vancouver Whitecaps in the Cascadia Cup and CF Montreal in the Canadian Classique, and compared the emotional intensity in Los Angeles with major rivalries in South America, Mexico and Europe.
Son drew on his own derby experience from Tottenham Hotspur's matches against Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen's games against FC Koln. He said the significance for supporters and clubs felt similar to what he encountered in England and Germany.
LAFC climb to third in the Western Conference
LAFC had won only twice in nine matches between April 11 and the World Cup break. The Galaxy result followed a 1-0 victory over Seattle Sounders in the club's May 24 sendoff match, giving the Black and Gold consecutive wins.
LAFC now sit third in the Western Conference after 16 games. The team returns against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday as MLS resumes with a 15-match midweek schedule.
A meeting with Sporting Kansas City follows next Saturday. Dos Santos gave his players Saturday off before Sunday training and urged the squad to remain humble during a demanding week despite the momentum created by its derby performance.