CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Son Heung-Min showcased his talent by netting two goals within a mere three minutes during the first half, thanks to assists from Carles Gil, leading MLS to a thrilling 4-3 victory over Liga MX in the Major League Soccer All-Star Game on Wednesday night.
The LAFC forward celebrated both goals with his iconic “camera” gesture, pretending to take a picture with an imaginary camera.
“Having great players around me made my job so much easier,” stated the South Korea star. “Scoring two goals during the match makes this night incredibly special.”
Goals from Philip Zinckernagel of the Chicago Fire and Evander da Silva Ferreira of FC Cincinnati also contributed to the MLS All-Stars’ scoreline in front of 35,197 fans at Bank of America Stadium.
Luis Gabriel Rey opened the scoring for Liga MX with a header from a free kick, getting the ball past Matt Freese, the United States men’s national team goalkeeper, just ten minutes into the match.
Son quickly turned the tide, receiving a pass from Gil on the left flank, controlling the ball, and slotting his shot beyond a diving Carlos Acevedo to level the match at the 20-minute mark.
Shortly after, Son put MLS ahead for good, reacting quickly to Gil’s effort to keep the ball in play, receiving a pass, and finishing confidently into the net.
Zinckernagel extended the MLS advantage to 3-1 in the 42nd minute, scoring from a rebound.
Liga MX narrowed the gap to 3-2 early in the second half with a goal from Salomón Rondón, but Ferreira’s goal in the 58th minute restored a cushion for MLS. José Paradela scored a consolation goal during injury time for Liga MX, ending the match 4-3.
“Son is an incredible player,” remarked Hany Mukhtar, a midfielder for Nashville FC. “He’s world-class and proves it week in and week out. His performance comes as no surprise to us; we witness his abilities in training.”
MLS’ standout star, Lionel Messi of Inter Miami, was absent from the match, having been excused after Argentina’s impressive World Cup run, which ended with a loss to Spain in the finals. Messi has contributed 12 goals and eight assists for Inter Miami prior to the All-Star break.
He, along with teammate Rodrigo De Paul, was granted an excused absence from the All-Star event.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.