LA Galaxy were staring into the abyss at 3-0 down against LAFC, but rallied to 3-2 before Ibrahimovic came on to score twice and give them the win.
"I felt I played 40 games for my 20 minutes," he said. "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. So, and I said I will not let you down. I will score also 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."