FOXBORO — The New England Revolution kept Heung-Min Son off the scoresheet but couldn’t spoil the South Korean star’s first MLS start, as Los Angeles FC claimed a 2-0 victory at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night.
The Revolution (7-12-7, 28 points) played a tight game, mostly limiting LAFC’s eclectic and dynamic attack. The resistance finally broke in the 68th minute, as Mark Delgado capitalized on a giveaway off Matt Turner’s goal kick and blasted LAFC (11-6-8, 41 points) to a lead they never relinquished. LAFC put the game out of reach in the final minute of second half stoppage time as Mathieu Choinière tucked in the visitors’ second.
New England remains winless against LAFC — now 0-3-1 going back to 2017 — and has secured just two wins in its last 16 regular season matches.
“It was an even game — very tight against a very talented team,” head coach Caleb Porter said. “It’s exactly how you want the game to go. That start to the second half is so disappointing. We gave away a silly goal like that. We didn’t manage their level or their press, and suddenly we’re chasing.”
Son, who joined LAFC on an MLS record $26.5 million fee earlier this month, dominated headlines entering Saturday’s game. Prior to kickoff, he and his teammates toured the lighthouse in the north-facing end of Gillette Stadium, with Son cautiously peering over the railing and looking at the concourse down below.
Any fear of heights Son may or may not have had did not show up once the ball started rolling and play began. Despite not scoring, the South Korean was a constant threat, with darting runs and breakneck pace.
That said, the Revolution had promising spells of attacking play and even looked the more dangerous side in the first half.
Leonardo Campana blasted a shot right at LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris from the center of the box in the 11th minute off a giveaway. Seven minutes later, Lloris dropped low to stop Ignatius Ganago’s header at the near post off Carles Gil’s corner.
Son rolled LAFC’s first chance wide of the far post following the remnants of a corner (27th minute), his foot appearing to scuff the turf on his shot, while Campana’s 35th minute shot flew over the bar from long-range.
“There weren’t many chances — that was by design,” Porter said. “We wanted to slow them down, control the dangerous spaces, control transitions. I liked our mentality, the way we started.
“Maybe we could’ve been more ruthless in transition moments, had more precision. But I felt good at halftime. I thought we could’ve been ahead.”
The decisive moment came in the 50th minute, as Son narrowly fired wide of Turner’s right post after an incisive run straight at New England’s back line. On the ensuing goal kick, Turner played the ball short to Matt Polster, who folded possession over heavy pressure, the ball falling to an on-rushing Delgado, who fired in the game’s lone goal.
Both teams traded offensive rallies in an open second half. Campana fired wide of the far post from outside the box (63rd); Son fired a direct freekick straight at Turner (82nd); Lloris saved Tanner Beason’s header off Luca Langoni’s cross (85th) then halted Brandon Bye’s low driven cross from the right flank (88th).
Turner kept Son off the scoresheet at the death, halting his point-blank header before slapping hands with the South Korean striker in the second minute of second half stoppage time, but LAFC iced the match moments later as Son played Choinière in for an easy finish that made it 2-0.
The Revolution visit the Columbus Crew next Saturday with eight games remaining in the regular season.
“It’s difficult — not just for me, but for everyone,” Revolution captain Carles Gil said. “In the last two years, we’ve lost many games. We don’t win a lot, so it’s hard to say we’re in a good way. We need to be honest: the reality is we need to change things.
Right now, we’re far from this team (LAFC), and far from the best teams like Columbus, Miami… Right now we’re not there. Hopefully we can be soon. But we need to change many things.”
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