England U21 Dominate Moldova U21 with 4-0 Victory, Nwaneri Shines in European Qualifier

England's Under-21 squad secured a commanding 4-0 win over Moldova in their European Championship qualifier, with Ethan Nwaneri orchestrating the attack and Divin Mubama netting twice for the Young Lions.

By Chris Posiano

October 11, 2025 at 5:10 AM

8,397 views

Chisinau, Moldova — England Under-21s showcased their dominance in a European Championship qualifier, defeating Moldova U21 4-0 at Stadionul Zimbru. The victory, fueled by a standout performance from Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri, secured their position at the top of Group D with back-to-back wins.

The match, held on Friday, 10th October 2025, saw Nwaneri operate as a playmaker in the number 10 role, delivering the decisive assists that propelled England to victory. Chelsea's Jamie Gittens opened the scoring in the 28th minute, capitalizing on Nwaneri's incisive run that left two defenders trailing. Stoke City striker Divin Mubama, making his mark on the international stage, netted his first two goals for the Young Lions, including a composed penalty in the 74th minute after Nwaneri's clever reverse pass created a clear scoring opportunity.

Despite a strong showing from Everton's Tyler Dibling, who won a key free-kick, it was Nwaneri's influence that dictated the tempo. His early-second-half link-up with Dibling nearly resulted in another goal, though the pair were thwarted by a lack of space. Later, in the 68th minute, Mubama's clinical finish from Nwaneri's pass highlighted the visitors' attacking prowess.

Rico Lewis added a fourth goal in the 89th minute, exploiting defensive lapses with a composed strike from the edge of the penalty area. The win solidifies England's position in the group, with goalkeeper James Beadle making a notable save from Brooke Norton-Cuffy in the closing stages.

Key Performances:

Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal): 2 assists, pivotal pass for Mubama's penalty.
Divin Mubama (Stoke City): 2 goals (68', 74' pen).
Jamie Gittens (Chelsea): 1 goal (28').
Rico Lewis (Everton): 1 goal (89').

Match Stats: England controlled possession and created multiple chances, with Nwaneri's vision and creativity underpinning their attacking strategy. The Young Lions now look to maintain their momentum in the group stage.

Next Steps: England U21 will aim to build on this result in their upcoming fixtures, while Moldova faces a challenging path to qualify after this heavy defeat. Fans can watch highlights and analysis on Sky Sports or via their NOW Sports subscription.