Son Heung-min Takes a Breather: Why LAFC Benched Their Star Striker

Important Note: This article is based on a translated news report. All match details, quotes, and statistics come from the original source.

What Happened?

Imagine running a marathon, then being asked to sprint the next day—and the day after that. That’s basically what Son Heung-min, LAFC’s 34-year-old superstar forward, has been doing for weeks.

On August 20th (10:30 AM Korean time), LAFC faced the Colorado Rapids in MLS Round 20 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. But when the starting lineup was announced, fans noticed something unusual: Son Heung-min wasn’t on the field. He was sitting on the bench, along with fellow star Denis Bouanga.

Why Was Son Benched? The Simple Explanation

Think of it like this: your phone battery is at 5%. You could keep using it, but it might die when you need it most—or worse, damage the battery long-term. Coach Marc Dos Santos decided to put Son on "low power mode" to protect him.

The Grinding Schedule That Led Here

The Coach’s Game Plan: "Rotation Strategy"

Coach Dos Santos didn’t just rest Son—he shuffled the whole deck. Here’s who stepped up:

New Starting Lineup vs. Colorado Rapids

Coach Dos Santos said:
"I would love to keep Son on the pitch at all times because our team becomes much more threatening when he plays. But we cannot expect him to maintain peak freshness while playing three matches a week for several consecutive weeks."

Son’s Recent Rollercoaster Form

The Hot Streak (Post-World Cup Break)

• 6 goals in 5 games
• 4 straight MLS goals
• Multiple goals in All-Star Game
• Everything was clicking.

The Cool Down (League Cup & Recent MLS)

• 3 games in ~8 days during League Cup → 0 goals, team eliminated
• Last Monday vs. San Diego FC: Played full 90 minutes → 0 goals, team lost 0-1
• Current streak: 4 straight official matches without a goal

The Bigger Picture: LAFC’s Season So Far

Key Takeaways (Callout Box)

Why This Matters

• Smart management > short-term gain — Resting stars now prevents injuries later
• Age is a factor — At 34, recovery takes longer; the team’s high average age compounds this
• Form slump = warning sign — 4 goalless games after a hot streak often signals physical exhaustion
• Depth matters — LAFC has quality replacements (Ebobisse, Shaffelburg, Boyd) to rotate in
• Playoff push — Preserving Son for the entire season matters more than one August match

Summary

Son Heung-min didn’t start against Colorado Rapids because he’s exhausted—plain and simple. After a brutal stretch of 8 games in a month (two per week), the 34-year-old hit a physical wall. His scoring dried up (0 goals in 4 games), and Coach Marc Dos Santos made the smart, proactive call to rest him before an injury happens.

With LAFC sitting 3rd in the West and a long season ahead, keeping Son fresh for the games that really matter is the priority. Think of it as a strategic pit stop—not a demotion.

FAQ

Q1: Is Son Heung-min injured?

A: No! The article specifically says this was a planned rest due to fatigue, not an injury. The coach wants to prevent injuries by managing his minutes.

Q2: Will Son play against Portland Timbers?

A: The coach mentioned the Portland game as a reason to rest Son now—so he should be fresher and more likely to start in that upcoming match. But no official lineup has been announced yet.

Q3: Who is Jeremy Ebobisse?

A: He’s the forward who started instead of Son. Think of him as the "backup quarterback" getting his chance to shine while the starter rests.

Q4: Why does the team’s average age matter?

A: Older players generally need more recovery time between games. With the 2nd oldest squad in MLS, LAFC has to rotate more carefully than younger teams.

Q5: Is this the first time Son has been benched this season?

A: The article says "excluded from the starting lineup for the first time in a while"—meaning he’d been an automatic starter for a long stretch before this rotation decision.

Source: Translated from STARNEWS Korea. All rights reserved.