Son Heung-min says he 'let the fans down' after he fails to score, LAFC loses his hyped home debut

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Son Heung-min was left frustrated and disappointed after his long-awaited home debut for Los Angeles FC ended with a 2-1 loss to San Diego FC on Sunday night.

And while the South Korean superstar's legions of new and longtime fans didn't get to see a goal from their hero or a team victory at BMO Stadium, at least they got a glimpse of the tantalizing potential in Son's new team after it has a bit more time together.

“I couldn’t wait for this night, and then I feel like I let the fans down," Son said after his first defeat in four matches with LAFC. "But we’ve got to (keep) our heads up and accept this result. We move forward and we work hard, and we’ll be back stronger than ever.”

Son finished with two shots on net and several strong attacking moments mostly after halftime during a tense meeting with Western Conference-leading San Diego in front of a raucous sellout crowd eager to welcome Los Angeles' next sporting superstar.

The most agonizing moment was when Son hit the post with a screaming shot in the 78th minute. He also forced goalkeeper CJ Dos Santos to leave his feet make a save late in each half.

But Son couldn't finish his chances, and his team couldn't rally in the second half after San Diego stars Hirving Lozano and Anders Dreyer erased the early lead created by Denis Bouanga's 15th-minute goal for LAFC.

The result left LAFC 15 points behind expansion San Diego in fifth place in the conference standings, even though LAFC has three games in hand.

Son has one goal and one assist in his four MLS matches, scoring on a beautiful free kick last weekend at FC Dallas. LAFC recorded one win and two draws on the road this month, stoking Los Angeles' anticipation of the longtime Tottenham star's debut in his new home nearly four weeks after LAFC announced the landmark signing.

The crowd roared for Son from the moment he stepped on the field for warmups in Los Angeles, which has the world’s largest Korean population outside Korea. With thousands of fans wearing his jerseys for club and country, Son repeatedly waved to those cheering him on, and he exhorted the crowd into a frenzy right before kickoff by pumping his arms.

“I’ve been in amazing stadiums and experienced a lot, but today was very special,” Son said. “I feel like the fans were amazing. That’s why I’m more upset, because they deserved more today than one goal and zero points. They were fantastic. I can’t wait to play at home again. It felt like really, really home, you know? They were welcoming me.”

After a slow first half broken up only by Bouanga’s goal, LAFC finally got rolling. Son and Bouanga were active and dangerous in the second half, but repeatedly failed to cash in their numerous scoring chances.

Son couldn't get a shot on target after a beautiful long pass from former Tottenham teammate Hugo Lloris in the 74th minute, and Bouanga was left in disbelief after he was unable to capitalize while alone against Dos Santos in the 82nd minute.

LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo wasn't discouraged by his star forwards' inability to equalize, and he sees promising signs from their new partnership.

“To be frank, it's been excellent,” Cherundolo said. “We've had three away games and one home game, and we've created a lot of chances. Both of them are creating for each other, helping each other. ... We are definitely creating chances, and Sonny is helping us. We just need to be better at executing. Tonight, if you look at the stats, at (expected goals), the moments we had in front of goal, it's crazy that we walk away with nothing.”

Son jumped straight into LAFC’s lineup after playing a full season for Tottenham, capped by a cathartic Europa League triumph and a summer tour in Asia in which he departed Spurs with an emotional farewell in Seoul.

Son is leaving Los Angeles again for international duty this week, but he'll return with eight matches left in this exhausting year.

“When I come back from the national team, we have probably two very important months, so we've got to push for that,” Son said. “We're still very excited.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

Los Angeles FC forward Son Heung-Min (7) argues with a ref during the first half of an MLS soccer match against San Diego FC Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles FC forward Son Heung-Min waves to the crowd before an MLS soccer match against San Diego FC, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles FC forward Son Heung-Min reacts during the second half of an MLS soccer match against San Diego FC Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles FC forward Son Heung-Min reacts during the second half of an MLS soccer match against San Diego FC Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Muslim pilgrims from around the world congregated on Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the second official day of the annual Islamic pilgrimage, considered the pinnacle of the Hajj.

Despite the sweltering heat, the pilgrims gathered on the rocky hill and surrounding plain for intense prayers and worship that often mark a spiritual peak for them. They fervently murmured prayers and poured their hearts out in supplications. Many raised their hands in worship. It is common for pilgrims on that day, some with tears streaming down their faces, to ask God for forgiveness, mercy, blessings and good health.

The Hajj, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is required once in a lifetime for every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to perform it.

For pilgrims, the Hajj, performed over several days, can be a deeply moving spiritual experience and a chance to seek God’s forgiveness and the erasure of past sins. As they brave the intense heat to perform religious rituals, many pilgrims have been using umbrellas for shade.

A Saudi official said on Friday that more than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in the country from abroad.

This year, Muslims have been pouring into Saudi Arabia for the Hajj against the backdrop of a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war and related uncertainty in the region.

The U.S. military said Monday that it carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, including on missile launch sites and boats used to lay mines, even as President Donald Trump said on social media that negotiations with Tehran were “proceeding nicely." Iran on Tuesday denounced the most recent U.S. strikes as a sign of “bad faith and unreliability” as negotiations pressed on toward a possible deal to end the war.

For many, performing the Hajj can be a realization of a lifelong dream as they spend years hoping and praying to one day be able to undertake the pilgrimage or saving up money and waiting for a permit to embark on the trip.

“This happens once in a lifetime,” Mohammad Asal, an Egyptian pilgrim, said. “People here have prepared their prayers, hoping that God will respond to them, because we know that ... the most important ritual of the Hajj is being in Arafat.”

The Hajj brings together large numbers of Muslims of diverse races, ethnicities, languages and socioeconomic classes, creating a sense of unity for many. It’s a mass, communal experience, with Muslims performing rituals together. But it is also deeply personal, as every pilgrim brings their own yearnings and experiences.

“It was incredible,” Ahmed Sufyan, a pilgrim from the United States, said on Tuesday. “The unity and peace that we feel is something I’ve never experienced before,” he added via WhatsApp.

“Our wishes are many,” Mohammad Obaid, a Sudanese pilgrim, said, adding he was praying for Sudan and Muslims everywhere.

Fam reported from Winter Park, Florida.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

A Muslim pilgrim pray atop of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims walk towards the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims are silhouetted as they pray at top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims pray at top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims read a copy of Islam's holy book Quran atop of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)