Recap: Reims, Lyon Play to a Draw

It was a quiet first 45 minutes as neither side could generate a goal to take the lead heading into the dressing room. Lyon were the more threatening team in the first half, generating eight total shots, but none of them were on target while Reims had four total shots and only put one on target. 

The second half was anything but quiet because, in the 55th minute, Joseph Okumu broke the scoreless deadlock to give Reims a 1-0 lead. The visitors couldn’t hold onto their lead, though, as OL responded with a game-tying goal. 

In the 65th minute, Ernest Nuamah, who had come on as a substitute for Rayan Cherki in the second half, provided the goal to level the contest 1-1. The goals from the two squads in the final 45 minutes highlighted the uptick in offense with Lyon generating eight total shots while Reims countered with 13 total shots.

Anthony Lopes made four saves and Yehvann Diouf had two saves as the two goalkeepers also played important roles in what was a low-scoring affair between the two teams. 

The draw doesn’t help Reims in the race to clinch a European competition spot for next season. In such a tight race, Will Still and his team need three points as they currently trail fifth-place OGC Nice by four points.

Les Gones continue to entrench themselves in mid-table and with another point to their name, they continue to distance themselves from the clubs that are in the middle of a relegation battle.