Zlatan Ibrahimovic: 'Los Angeles Galaxy debut goal a product of tiredness'

Major League Soccer | Gameweek 5

Mar 31, 2018 at 8pm UK

Lletget (61'), Pontius (73'), Ibrahimovic (77', 91')

FT(HT: 0-2)

Vela (5', 26'), Steres (48' og.)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic reveals that his stunning 40-yard volley on his Los Angeles Galaxy debut was effectively a product of tiredness.

Published: April 1 2018 | 10:07

Last updated: April 2 2018 | 10:15

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has admitted that his stunning 40-yard strike on his Los Angeles Galaxy debut was effectively a product of tiredness.

The Swedish forward announced himself in style to his new club's fanbase with a thumping volley from range against city rivals Los Angeles FC.

Ibrahimovic's opening goal came just six minutes after coming on as a substitute, as the Galaxy fought back from three goals down to run out 4-3 winners.

Indeed, the 36-year-old headed home in the final seconds of the match to crown a magnificent derby comeback.

"I felt I played 40 games for my 20 minutes," Ibrahimovic told reporters. "I was feeling everything, jet lag, I didn't play for a long time. I did the first sprint and I was starting to breathe immediately, so when the second came I said this time I shoot, I don't run with the ball.

"You need to adjust for the weather, you need to adjust for the team, the way it plays. We need to have a balance, to save strength for the whole game because under these weather conditions is not easy. But I also think you get used to it.

"If you look back, every team I came to, first official game, I scored. I said I will not let you down. I will score today. I was just waiting to come in. When you lose 3-0, the adrenaline is pumping even more because you want to be able to do something to help the team. The fans were demanding something and I gave them Zlatan."

LA Galaxy are now second in the Western Conference, three points behind Vancouver Whitecaps who have played a game more.

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Eastern Conference

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Inter Miami Inter Miami	34	22	8	4	79	49	30	74
2	Columbus Crew	34	19	9	6	72	40	32	66
3	FC Cincinnati Cincinnati	34	18	5	11	58	48	10	59
4	Orlando City	34	15	7	12	59	50	9	52
5	Charlotte FC Charlotte FC	34	14	9	11	46	37	9	51
6	New York City FC NY City	34	14	8	12	54	49	5	50
7	New York Red Bulls NY Red Bulls	34	11	14	9	55	50	5	47
8	CF Montreal Montreal	34	11	10	13	48	64	-16	43
9	Atlanta United Atlanta	34	10	10	14	46	49	-3	40
10	DC United	34	10	10	14	52	70	-18	40
11	Philadelphia Union Philadelphia	34	9	10	15	62	55	7	37
12	Toronto	34	11	4	19	40	61	-21	37
13	Nashville SC Nashville	34	9	9	16	38	54	-16	36
14	New England Revolution New England	34	9	4	21	37	74	-37	31
15	Chicago Fire	34	7	9	18	40	62	-22	30

Western Conference

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Los Angeles FC Los Angeles	34	19	7	8	63	43	20	64
2	Los Angeles Galaxy LA Galaxy	34	19	7	8	69	50	19	64
3	Real Salt Lake Salt Lake	34	16	11	7	65	48	17	59
4	Seattle Sounders Seattle	34	16	9	9	51	35	16	57
5	Houston Dynamo Houston	34	15	9	10	47	39	8	54
6	Minnesota United Minnesota Utd	34	15	7	12	58	49	9	52
7	Colorado Rapids Colorado	34	15	5	14	61	60	1	50
8	Portland Timbers Portland	34	12	11	11	65	56	9	47
9	Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver	34	13	8	13	52	49	3	47
10	Austin FC Austin	34	11	9	14	39	48	-9	42
11	Dallas	34	11	8	15	54	56	-2	41
12	St Louis City	34	8	13	13	50	63	-13	37
13	Sporting Kansas City Kansas	34	8	7	19	51	66	-15	31
14	San Jose Earthquakes Earthquakes	34	6	3	25	41	78	-37	21