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Harambee Stars defender Joseph Okumu featured as Stade Reims were subjected to a third straight Ligue 1 defeat at the hands of Toulouse on Sunday.
Harambee Stars defender Joseph Okumu put in a solid shift for 86 minutes but couldn’t help Stade Reims avoid their third consecutive Ligue 1 defeat, succumbing to a 1-0 loss against Toulouse on Sunday evening.
Okumu, who recently returned to the starting lineup after overcoming an adductor strain and scored in their previous match against Brest, showcased his defensive resilience by making six clearances and contributing seven tackles and interceptions while playing as a right-back.
The encounter at Toulouse began with high energy from both sides. Reims created two significant opportunities early on.
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Oumar Diakité forced a corner after a promising shot in the 17th minute, followed by Sergio Akieme’s volley that was brilliantly stopped by Toulouse’s goalkeeper Guillaume Restes in the 18th minute.
The hosts responded swiftly, with Joshua King’s shot requiring intervention from Reims' goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf in the 21st minute.
Junya Ito, known for his flair, penetrated the Toulouse defense and launched a shot that Restes gathered comfortably in the 32nd minute.
The first half concluded with tense moments as Reims faced relentless pressure. Yann Gboho tested Diouf with a one-on-one chance, but the Reims goalkeeper stood firm and recovered the ball at the feet of the striker.
Just before halftime, Zakaria Aboukhlal's strike was saved by Diouf, and Cedric Kipré cleared a subsequent attempt off the line to keep the score 0-0 at the break.
Toulouse increased their attacking intensity after the restart. A shot by Kamanzi sailed over the bar in the 49th minute, and Cresswell’s header from a corner missed its mark in the 55th minute.
Diouf, who had an outstanding performance in goal, made another crucial save against Aboukhlal in the 67th minute to keep Reims in the contest.
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Stade Reims nearly broke the deadlock when Junya Ito's cross found Keito Nakamura, whose header crashed against the crossbar in the 81st minute, leaving Reims inches away from the lead. However, it was Toulouse who eventually found the breakthrough.
In the 84th minute, Zakaria Aboukhlal managed to beat Diouf with a delicate chipped shot, giving the home side a 1-0 advantage.
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