Ghanaian forward Kwame Opoku made a notable impact in CF Montreal's 2-2 draw against the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer (MLS) on Wednesday.
Opoku, starting the game at Stade Saputo, played for 46 minutes and scored a crucial goal for his team. Post-match, he expressed his joy, stating, "It feels really good to be back and do what I love."
CF Montreal's leading scorer this season, Sunusi Ibrahim, opened the scoring in the 11th minute. Opoku, making his first start since recovering from an injury, doubled the lead ten minutes later, showcasing his skill and determination. Reflecting on his return, 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 challenging conditions, Opoku admitted, "My cardio isn’t at the highest level yet. It was tough to play in the heat." His efforts, however, were not enough to secure a win as the New York Red Bulls, currently third in the Eastern Conference standings, fought back. Wikelman Carmona reduced the deficit in the 61st minute, and Julian Hall equalized late in the 88th minute.
Opoku praised the medical staff for their support during his injury recovery. "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 explained.
CF Montreal is now preparing for their third match in eight days, which will take place this Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Denver against the Colorado Rapids. Looking ahead, Opoku emphasized the need for improvement in their defensive play, stating, "We have to work on how we defend to protect our lead. We have room to improve."
