Nigeria international Akinsanmiro delivered an encouraging display for Monza, yet it was not enough to prevent his side from falling 3-2 to Lecce in a pulsating Serie A encounter on Sunday.

The Super Eagles midfielder made his third appearance of the season but remains without an assist. He was withdrawn in the 83rd minute, replaced by Mout, as Monza chased an equaliser.

Lecce surge out of the blocks

The visitors wasted no time in seizing control. Ivan Ilić carved open the Monza defence in the 3rd minute with a whipped delivery that Lassana Coulibaly headed home for 1-0.

Seven minutes later, the lead was doubled. Tiago Gabriel rose at the back post to nod in another Ivan Ilić cross, making it 2-0 and leaving Monza with a steep climb.

Monza hit back — briefly

The hosts rallied swiftly. Ricardo Mangas pulled one back from close range in the 20th minute, and a comeback suddenly looked plausible. The optimism lasted only seconds: at 21 minutes, Danilo Veiga delivered a cross that Coulibaly met again — this time with his right foot — to restore Lecce's two-goal cushion at 3-1.

Those four goals inside the opening 21 minutes set the tone for a tense second half, with both sets of supporters on the edge of their seats.

Late drama, but Lecce hold firm

Monza continued to press and were rewarded deep into stoppage time when Exequiel Zeballos struck in the 89th minute to make it 3-2. The goal injected fresh anxiety into the closing stages, but Lecce's composure never wavered. They managed the final moments intelligently to secure all three points.

The victory underlined Lecce's clinical finishing and disciplined defensive organisation throughout the contest.