Kenyan international Joseph Okumu featured full minutes as KAA Gent suffered their seventh defeat of the season in a seven-goal thriller on Wednesday night, losing 4-3 to KV Mechelen.Gent were hoping to make it six wins in a row in all competitions this season, something that they have not managed, only being able to string five wins in a row in only one instance.This was the second game for the former Chemelil Sugar prodigy since returning after being sidelined following a heavy collision against OH Leuven that saw him miss the Europa Conference League clash with Flora Tallin.FT 4-3 | Frustrerend resultaat tegen een hyperefficiënt Mechelen #COBW #kvmgnt #jpl pic.twitter.com/F0Bj4bEMTx— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) December 15, 2021 Gent had a dream start in the first half, scoring first through Tarik Tissoudali just 33 minutes in the game but their lead was short-lived as Kerim Mrabti scored three minutes later to draw the teams level and head into the break with no team having the advantage.The same scenario unfolded in the second half as Laurent Depoitre scored the second goal for the visitors just five minutes after the restart, only for Nikola Storm to level the scores for the hosts four minutes later.Mrabti scored his second of the game from the spot at the hour mark and Gent trailed for the first time in the game.Tissoudali completed his brace with 22 minutes left to play, connecting to a Depoitre pass to see the teams level, again.3-3 (68’) | YESSS!! 3-3 TISSOUDALIIIII! #kvmgnt #jpl pic.twitter.com/0EK8LdD8AD— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) December 15, 2021 Again, Mechelen reclaimed their lead two minutes after the equalizer through Storm, the third brace of the game, and went on to hold to the lead to the end of the game.This was the 17th league appearance for Okumu, starting in 15 of those and coming on from the bench twice, getting subbed out only once after the collision earlier this month.
