Ghanaian attacker Kwame Opoku expressed his joy at returning to action after scoring in CF Montreal's 2-2 draw against New York Red Bulls in the MLS.
Opoku, who started the game at Stade Saputo and played until the 46th minute, shared his feelings post-match.
"It feels really good to be back and do what I love," Opoku said. "Certain things you can’t train for. Things happen in games. We love to be dangerous in the box and take advantage of every chance we get."
Despite the challenging conditions, Opoku made a significant impact. "My cardio isn’t at the highest level yet. It was tough to play in the heat," he admitted.
Opoku's goal came ten minutes after Sunusi Ibrahim, the team's top scorer this season, opened the scoring for the Montrealers in the 11th minute. However, the Red Bulls, currently third in the Eastern Conference standings, fought back in the second half. Wikelman Carmona reduced the deficit in the 61st minute, and Julian Hall equalized late in the 88th minute.
Opoku praised the team's medical staff for their care during his injury. "When I was injured, the medical staff took good care of me. Any time I arrived at training, I would joke that I wanted to go home. So when I scored, I just pointed at them referencing that," he said.
CF Montreal will face the Colorado Rapids in their third match in eight days this Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Denver. Opoku believes there is room for improvement, particularly in their defensive play. "We have to work on how we defend to protect our lead. We have room to improve," he concluded.