27-05-2025
Watford youngster claims an assist on his England debut
Amin Nabizada claimed an assist on his debut for England Under-18's as they beat Morocco 3-1 on Sunday.
The Watford forward had missed a chance to make his Three Lions bow earlier in the season when he was selected but had to withdraw due to injury.
However, he was back to fitness and started the first of two games against Morocco at the national football centre, Complexe Mohammed VI de Football in Salé.
And a memorable day for Nabizada got even better when he set up England's third goal.
Fellow debutant Wes Okoduwa of Wolves beat three opposition players with some excellent wing play before releasing Nabizada.
The Watford youngster's first-time cross was met by Liverpool's Josh Sonni-Lambie who finished superbly.
The Young Lions had taken the lead after only six minutes through Crystal Palace striker Jesse Derry.
A flowing move down the right-hand side ended with Derry finding the back of the net with a tidy finish from the edge of the six-yard box after meeting a cross from Manchester City full-back Kian Noble.
Liam Bramley's side doubled their lead with 41 minutes on the clock.
Derry was on target once again, this time linking up with Reading's Andre Garcia, whose cross from the by-line picked out the forward in the right place at the right time to make it 2-0.
The hosts grabbed a consolation late in the day – a deflection leaving England keeper Oliver Whatmuff of Manchester City with no chance of making a save – as it finished 3-1.
The Young Lions will wrap up their season with a second match-up against Morocco tomorrow (Wednesday, 6pm UK time) when England look to make it two wins from as many outings in the international window.
For Nabizada it caps off an excellent season which saw him make his first-team debut as a substitute at Fulham in the FA Cup in January, quickly followed by a league debut off the bench against Leeds the following month.
A regular scorer for the Under-18s, Nabizada helped them reach the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup as well as the Premier Development League South Play-Off Final.
