Kenyan international Joseph Okumu was deployed at right-back as KAA Gent rallied from two goals down to settle for a 2-2 draw against Latvian outfit FK Rīgas Futbola Skola in the UEFA Europa Conference League as Nabi Kibunguchy watched his Sacramento Republic FC draw 1-1 with Tacoma Defiance.Joseph Okumu The former Chemelil Sugar defender was slotted in the unfamiliar right-back position with Gent suffering defensively this season as they hoped Okumu would tighten up things at the back.Okumu however had a challenging start to the game as Brazilian midfielder Emerson Santana got the better of him on the byline to set up Darko Lemajic who tapped in the opener in the 11th minute.FT 2-2 | Sterk teruggevochten na rust, alles ligt nog open voor de terugmatch. Let’s go! #gntrfs #UECL pic.twitter.com/pno7FfZZaz— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) August 5, 2021 Santana was giving Okumu nightmares as he whipped in a cross that was nodded in by Tomas Simkovic in the 28th minute as the Latvian minnows took a surprise 2-0 lead in the opening half-hour.Gent however turned on the style in the second half and halved the deficit seven minutes after the restart with Nigerian midfielder Oladoye Adewale sending a low placed shot that found the back of the net.Tarik Tissoudali who set up Gent’s first goal got his name on the scoresheet in the 77th minute as he tapped in Laurent Depoitre’s cross but Gent could not get a winner as both teams settled for a draw with all to do in the second leg. Nabi KibunguchyKenyan defender Nabi Kibunguchy was an unused substitute in Sacramento Republic FC’s 1-1 draw against Tacoma Defiance in the United Soccer League (USL) Championship.We share the points in Tacoma. #TACvSAC pic.twitter.com/6M0ghzjazw— Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) August 6, 2021 Jerome Kiesewetter headed in the opener in the 18th minute after a defensive mixup from the Sacramento backline and the goalkeeper.Sacramento returned a much-rejuvenated side in the second half with Randy Mendoza’s solo effort caught the goalkeeper by surprise with his shot from outside the box.
