Aaron Salazar Addresses Son Heung-min Tackle & Costa Rica Exit

Aarón Salazar of LD Alajuelense addressed the contentious tackle on LAFC’s Son Heung-min following their CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 second leg match in Costa Rica on Tuesday. The incident occurred during the game, resulting in cautions for both players, according to reports.

The tackle sparked immediate reaction, with Son Heung-min initially appearing “incensed” by the challenge, as reported by MSN. The Sun described the challenge as a “poorly-timed challenge” that nearly instigated a brawl, with Son confronting Salazar directly.

However, in a surprising turn, Son Heung-min diffused the situation by approaching Salazar first after the incident. Chosun.com reported that Son assured Salazar he was alright and even embraced him, exchanging “kind words” and playfully patting his head. This display of sportsmanship occurred despite the tackle being potentially “career-threatening,” according to the same report.

Salazar subsequently offered his own account of the play, as detailed in La Nacion of Costa Rica. The reports indicate that Salazar explained his actions after the game, though the specifics of his explanation were not immediately available.

LAFC ultimately secured a 2-1 victory over Alajuelense, with David Martinez scoring the winning goal in stoppage time. Son Heung-min departed Costa Rica on March 18th, following the match.