Monza vs Udinese: Former Nigerian league talent helped breach Okoye, but Super Eagles shot-stopper triumphs
Saturday evening’s five-goal thriller between Monza and Udinese featured Nigerian excellence on either sides.
Maduka Okoye was at his best to help Udinese resist a fierce second-half comeback to secure a dramatic 3-2 away victory over AC Monza at the Stadio Brianteo on Saturday evening.
Okoye was not the only Nigerian star who defined the five-goal Serie A thriller, as young midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro made an immediate impact off the bench for Monza, providing a crucial assist in their late push.
Udinese’s ruthless efficiency shaped the match in the first 45 minutes. Capitalising on defensive lapses from the hosts, the visitors struck three times in a chaotic window before the interval.
After a contested opening half hour, Jakub Piotrowski opened the scoring, finding a breakthrough past Monza goalkeeper Demba Thiam to give Udinese an early 1-0 advantage.
Monza responded swiftly when Andrea Colpani struck an equaliser, briefly reviving the home crowd and levelling the contest.
Udinese reclaimed control just before halftime, however, with Hassane Kamara restoring their lead, before Jurgen Ekkelenkamp delivered a crushing blow deep into stoppage time to make it 3-1 heading into the locker room.
Akinsanmiro sparks comeback
Trailing by two goals, Monza turned to their bench, introducing Ebenezer Akinsanmiro in the 53rd minute. The 21-year-old former Remo Stars midfielder instantly changed the complexion of the game, dictating the tempo and carving out spaces in the Udinese defence [1].
His vision paid off directly in the 63rd minute. Akinsanmiro unlocked the backline with a pinpoint assist to Gustavo Varela, who finished clinically to cut the deficit to 3-2.
The final half-hour saw Monza throw everything forward in search of an equaliser. However, Maduka Okoye anchored the Udinese defence under immense pressure, commanding his penalty area, making three saves and ensuring the visitors escaped Lombardy with all three points.
The 3-2 result is an early-season boost for Udinese, allowing them to climb the Serie A table into second with a vital win on the road. They will look to carry this momentum forward as they return home to the Bluenergy Stadium for their next fixture against Venezia.
Conversely, the defeat leaves Monza searching for defensive stability. However, Akinsanmiro has done enough to convince Ignazio Abate he deserves a start when they travel to face Torino on the first of September.