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The Harambee Stars defender was a 60th minute substitute for Reims who let a 2-1 lead slip to draw 2-2 with Metz in Ligue 1
Harambee Stars defender Joseph Okumu was a 60th minute substitute as Stade de Reims were held to a 2-2 draw by FC Metz after coming from behind to lead 2-1 at the Stade Saint-Symphorien on Sunday.
Starting on the bench for a second straight game, Okumu got the much-needed minutes in the tank as he came in as a replacement for Emmanuel Agbadou.
Okumu was introduced when Reims were leading 2-1 after coming from an early upset to gain an advantage.
Metz’s season had got off to a rocky start when they were thrashed 5-1 on the opening day, but a win and a draw since seemed to have put the Maroons back on track.
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19:30 - 27.08.2023
STARS ABROAD Joseph Okumu benched as Reims thrash Montpellier in Ligue 1
The Harambee Stars defender recovered in time for Sunday’s clash but was not utilised from the bench as Reims recorded a second straight French top flight victory
And the hosts were clearly keen to build on this and get some momentum, as evidenced by a strong start that saw them net the opener after just six minutes. Cheikh Sabaly was the man to give Metz liftoff, rifling a stunning strike into the top corner after cutting in on his right foot, and making it four match openers in as many goalscoring outings.
However, Reims didn’t let the hosts’ early goal distract them from the task at hand, and they hit back just over 10 minutes later with a stunning strike of their own. Oumar Diakité picked up the ball on the edge of the area, before drilling a thunderous effort into the top corner.
The Red and Whites grew into the game after their leveller, but were unable to create anything of any real substance to test the goalkeeper again before the break.
The visitors came out strong after the break as they looked to go ahead for the first time in the game. And they went ahead seven minutes after the restart, when some brilliant work on the left wing by Mohamed Daramy worked the ball into the box where it found Teddy Teuma.
Still on a high after his Man of the Match performance against Montpellier a week ago, the Maltese midfielder then managed to steer his calm left-footed shot beyond Alexandre Oukidja.
Reims coach Will Still then introduced Okumu and with English defender Josh Wilson-Esbrand also coming on for midfielder Thibault De Smet in a bid to hold onto his side’s lead.
However, his plan crumbled just three minutes later as they were pegged back by Metz. The ball fell to Ablie Jallow, who curled a beautiful left-footed effort into the top corner from the edge of the area – remarkably doing so within just a minute of his introduction into the fray.
The remainder of the game failed to bring a clear cut chance for either side, with both sides looking hesitant to risk losing the game.
In his 30 minutes on the pitch, Okumu was given a Whoscored rating of 6.1 after winning two aerial duels and putting in one tackle.
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08:00 - 20.08.2023
STARS ABROAD Confirmed: Injury knocks Joseph Okumu out of Reims’ Ligue 1 clash against Clermont Foot
The Harambee Stars defender has been left out of the squad for Sunday’s clash after failing to win the fitness race due to a hamstring injury
The tackle came in the 79th minute when he tried to get to the ball but clattered into the legs of an opponent.
It is the second game for Okumu since his move to Reims this summer after starting in the opening match against Marseille before he missed the home clash with Clermont Foot due to injury while he did not come off the bench last weekend when his side beat Montpellier 3-1.
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