Joseph Okumu's valiant effort falls short against Kylian Mbappe's Paris Saint-Germain

© Stade de Reims.

STARS ABROAD Joseph Okumu's valiant effort falls short against Kylian Mbappe's Paris Saint-Germain

Festus Chuma 09:20 - 12.11.2023

Okumu's valiant effort could not thwart Kylian Mbappe's brilliance as PSG triumphed 3-0 against Reims in a Ligue 1 clash.

Harambee Stars defender Joseph Okumu displayed his resilience on the pitch even though his team Stade de Reims suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain led by the unstoppable Kylian Mbappe.

The Ligue 1 encounter which took place on a Saturday afternoon Mbappe's hat-trick secured the victory for the champions and catapulted them to the top of the table.

Despite Okumu's commendable 90-minute performance PSG's dominance ultimately prevailed leaving Reims with a tough loss.

The 26-year old defender was rated at a modest 4 by Get Football French News, as his side was clearly outclassed by the reigning champions.

Mbappe wasted no time making his mark on the match opening the scoring just three minutes into the game with a sublime volley into the bottom corner.

The goal was a result of excellent build-up play by winger Ousmane Dembele, leaving Reims stunned in the early stages.

However, the hosts were determined to mount a comeback and appeared to have found the equalizer shortly thereafter when Junya netted a goal.

Unfortunately for Reims, the effort was disallowed due to an earlier offside, but it did not deter them from pressing forward.

Reims forced PSG's goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, into action multiple times in the first half, despite their inability to convert their chances.

The second half brought more challenges for Okumu and the Reims defense as they struggled to contain PSG's relentless attacks.

Spanish midfielder Carlos Soler played a crucial role in PSG's second goal as he advanced down the left wing and provided a perfect assist to Mbappe, who clinically finished from close range.

Mbappe, not content with just a brace, continued to terrorize Reims' defense, coming close to completing his hat-trick earlier but being denied by Reims' goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf.

However, with just eight minutes of normal time remaining, Mbappe unleashed a spectacular shot from inside the area, curling it into the far corner to complete his hat-trick and seal PSG's victory.

While the spotlight understandably shone brightly on Mbappe's exceptional performance, it is essential to acknowledge Okumu's efforts as well.

Despite facing a relentless PSG attack, the Harambee Stars defender displayed maturity and resilience throughout the match.

PSG's entire backline found themselves under pressure, particularly in the first half, but Okumu's performance as a center-back stood out as a bright spot for Reims.

The Parasian's victory propelled them to the top of the table, overtaking Nice by a single point.

Reims, on the other hand, currently sits fourth in the league, awaiting the outcome of the weekend's other fixtures in France.

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