The MLS All-Stars claimed a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Liga MX All-Stars at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Wednesday night.
Son Heung-min was the undeniable star of the evening, scoring twice in a stunning three-minute burst during the first half to turn the game on its head.
Both of Son’s goals came courtesy of assists from Carles Gil, with the LAFC forward finishing clinically on each occasion to give MLS the lead for good.
The Los Angeles Football Club star celebrated both strikes with his trademark “camera” celebration, mimicking an old-fashioned camera and pretending to snap a picture for the crowd.
Son was named MVP of the Major League Soccer All-Star Game, an honour he received in front of 35,197 fans packed into Bank of America Stadium.
Liga MX had taken an early lead through Luis Gabriel Rey, who sent a running header off a free kick past United States men’s national team goalkeeper Matt Freese just 10 minutes in.
Son levelled at the 20-minute mark, collecting a pass from Gil on the left side of the pitch before sliding a well-placed shot past a diving Carlos Acevedo.
Gil then hustled to prevent the ball from going out of play moments later, firing a pass back across goal for Son to bury and put MLS ahead just three minutes after the equaliser.
Chicago Fire’s Philip Zinckernagel extended the lead to 3-1 in the 42nd minute by scoring off a rebound, before Salomon Rondon pulled one back for Liga MX early in the second half.
FC Cincinnati’s Evander da Silva Ferreira then added a fourth for MLS in the 58th minute, giving the side a two-goal cushion that proved enough to hold on for the win despite a late Liga MX push.
Nashville FC midfielder Hany Mukhtar was full of praise for the South Korean star after the final whistle, leaving no doubt about his admiration for Son’s quality.
“He’s an unbelievable player,” Mukhtar said. “He’s a world class player for a reason. He shows it every week, and we all know how good he is. We see it in training, and I’m not surprised at what he did.”
Son himself was gracious in accepting the MVP award, keeping his words simple and heartfelt after a standout individual performance.
“I’m very happy, and I just want to say thank you to everyone,” the 34-year-old said after collecting the honour.
The former Tottenham star had faced heavy criticism following South Korea’s failure to reach the knockout rounds of the World Cup, but he has responded emphatically since MLS returned from its World Cup break with three goals in three matches for LAFC.
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