Son and Bouanga have become one of the league’s deadliest duos thanks to their ability to push their egos to the side and share the glory.
LAFC has been right in the middle of the playoff race this season, despite a slow start and a question about the dedication of one of the designated players. That solution was fixed at the trade deadline when LAFC welcomed in its newest star, Son Heung-Min. This addition to the team was to help star winger Denis Bouanga, who needed help in the attack.
Many worried how this now elite duo would work together, with one of them playing out of position; there was no telling how effective the duo would be together. Now we know this match was perfect.
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Son and Bouanga: The League’s Biggest Surprise
Why the Duo was Doubted
The biggest question mark coming into this transfer addition was what position Son would play? The South Korean plays on the wing in the same spot that Bouanga has played since joining LAFC.
With Son being in his mid-30s, they couldn’t just put him anywhere, as his speed is no longer what it was back in his prime.
When he played Center Forward, many people questioned the decision to place him in that position, as it is not a position he typically plays.
With that being known, the dynamic between the two was expected to be off since Son had to change his style of play. Bouanga was also known for not playing well with other stars in the front. Bouanga had a history of struggling to share the spotlight; not every instance was his fault, as the other star was blamed for not adjusting to him as well.
LAFC recently added a star to plug into the Center Forward position, and it didn’t work out for the club or the player. Sometimes bad luck with international DPs can be a trend that teams can’t break.
This move for Son was feared to be another one of those failed moves. Fortunately for LAFC, that wasn’t the case as we have seen in recent events.
Why have they succeeded
This duo has found success due to their ability to pass up a chance at a big shot for a better one, even if that means they themselves don’t score. This type of buy-in isn’t always guaranteed in the MLS.
When stars from across the pond come over to America, it is usually to get a last paycheck before retiring on one of the two coasts. This hasn’t been the case for Son; he has appeared to buy into the MLS and wants to win with LAFC.
The two games against Real Salt Lake displayed how good these two are not just as players but as a duo that can take over a game on the scoreboard at a moment’s notice.
The playoffs will be a real test to see if they can continue their play when the emotions are more built up and every team is nearly equal talent-wise.
Main Photo
Credit IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire
Recording Date 20.09.2025