Son Heung-min records his first MLS hat trick and Los Angeles FC beats Real Salt Lake 4-1

SANDY, Utah (AP) — Son Heung-min secured his first MLS hat trick on a sliding finish in the 82nd minute and Los Angeles FC beat Real Salt Lake 4-1 on Wednesday night.

Los Angeles (13-7-8) was coming off a 4-2 victory over San Jose on Saturday when Denis Bouanga recorded his third career hat trick and Heung-min added the other goal in the opening minute.

Salt Lake (10-15-4) has lost four of its last five matches.

Heung-min, who joining LAFC a month ago from the English Premier League, scored on a breakaway in the third minute for a 1-0 lead. He was left wide open in the middle of the field in the 16th and scored from distance to make it 2-0.

Heung-min ran with Bouanga from midfield on a 2-on-1 breakaway and scored an easy tap-in for a 3-1 advantage. Bouanga scored six minutes later on another breakaway to break a tie with league legend Carlos Vela for the most goals in club history with 94.

RSL missed a penalty kick in the 45th when Rwan Cruz’s attempt hit off the right post and went across the goal line to goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who had gone the other way.

Teenager Zavier Gozo scored on a beautiful bicycle click for RSL in the 76th.

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