By Jung Joo-ri and Yoon Hee Young

Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur has set a record for most goals in a season by a Korean soccer player in a European league with two over the weekend.

The striker on May 1 scored his 18th and 19th goals of the 2021-22 season against Leicester City in the 35th week of the English Premier League season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

He was involved in all three of his team's scores in the game, including an assist for teammate Harry Kane's opening goal in the first half.

Tottenham won 3-1 thanks to Son's efforts.

Son scored his first goal of the game 15 minutes into the second half thanks to an assist from Dejan Kulusevski to give the Spurs a 2-0 lead. In the 34th minute of the half, the Korean curled a mid-range shot with his left foot into the net off yet another pass from the right from Kulusevski.

With his first goal in this game, Son broke Cha Bum-kun's record for most goals in a season by a Korean in a European league. Playing for Bayer Leverkusen of Germany's Bundesliga, Cha, a former national soccer coach for Korea, held the previous mark of 17 set in the 1985-86 season.

Son on April 10 also bested his own season best of 17 goals with a hat trick in a 4-0 win over Aston Villa in the league's 32nd week.

The striker went ahead of Manchester United ace Cristiano Ronaldo to stand alone at second place in the league scoring race, just three behind leader Mohamed Salah of Liverpool (22).

Son and Kane also set a league record for goal combinations with their 41st of the season. Kane scored on a free header from a Son corner kick from the right side in the 22nd minute of the first half.

This season, Son has 19 goals and seven assists in the league and 20 and eight in all competitions, including a goal and an assist in the UEFA Europa League.

etoilejr@korea.kr