Son Heung-min Prepares for High-Altitude Mexico Match with Preventive Injections
LAFC advanced to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals after a 1-1 draw in Puebla. The second-leg quarterfinal took place at Estadio Cuauhtémoc on the 15th (Korea time). LAFC had won the first leg 3-0 and progressed 4-1 on aggregate.
Match overview
The opponent was Cruz Azul in Puebla, Mexico. Son Heung-min started as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation. He played the full 90 minutes but did not score.
Individual performance and statistics
Son had 24 touches during the match. Statistical provider Footmob recorded one shot and one chance created. His pass accuracy was 77 percent, completing 10 of 13 passes.
Footmob gave Son the lowest match rating among LAFC players at 6.2. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris earned the team’s highest rating of 8.0.
Key moments: the penalty sequence
Late in the second half, Son produced a penetrating no-look pass into the box. Jacob Schæfflerberg took the subsequent shot. The ball struck an opponent’s hand and the referee awarded a penalty.
Son had been expected to take the kick. Buanga instead took the penalty and scored, equalizing the match.
High-altitude factors and World Cup preparation
The game was held at Estadio Cuauhtémoc, about 2,130 meters above sea level. The stadium’s altitude affects ball flight and player oxygen intake.
Son reportedly prepared for the high-altitude Mexico match by receiving preventive injections before kick-off. He also practiced shooting prior to the game.
The match provided useful data ahead of South Korea’s World Cup meeting with Mexico. Guadalajara’s Akron Stadium sits around 1,570 meters above sea level. Son therefore completed 90 minutes at a higher altitude than the World Cup venue.
Physical impact observed
Observers noted Son’s overall movement lacked explosive speed on several counterattacks. The team also provided limited pass support to him on the day. The match nonetheless serves as a valuable high-altitude test ahead of the World Cup.
LAFC reached the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup for the first time in three years. Son remains a key figure for both club and country as preparations continue.
