Nabbout completed his first full match since returning from a serious shoulder injury sustained at the FIFA World Cup and was on hand to help Urawa Red Diamonds secure all three points against FC Tokyo at Saitama Stadium.
With Urawa holding a slender 2-1 lead, the 25-year-old displayed determination to chase his own flick-on down before finding Tadanari Lee unmarked inside the box with 20 minutes remaining.
Ryoichi Maeda managed to pull a goal back for Tokyo, but it proved mere consolation as the home side held on to secure a fifth-placed finish to the J1 League season; 10 points above Mitch Langerak’s Nagoya Grampus, who avoided relegation on goal difference after battling back for a 2-2 draw with Shonan Bellmare.
In the Premier League, Ryan’s Brighton came back from a goal down to defeat Mooy’s Huddersfield Town at John Smith’s Stadium.
A red card to Steve Mounie in the first half helped the Seagulls back into the match and goals to Shane Duffy and Florin Andone completed the comeback.
Ryan and Mooy crossed paths on one notable occasion in the first half, the Socceroos shot-stopper diving low to stop Mooy’s free-kick from curling into the bottom corner.
The win propels Brighton up to 11th on the league ladder, nine points above the relegation zone and eight above the beaten Terriers.
Fellow Socceroos Massimo Luongo and Jackson Irvine also faced off in the Championship as the latter’s Hull City side defeated Queens Park Rangers 3-2 at Loftus Road.
The midfielders each played 90 minutes in a match that helped the Tigers move two points clear of the drop zone, level on points with Ryan Williams’ Rotherham, who fell 3-1 to leaders Norwich City at Carrow Road.
New Aussie fan favourite Martin Boyle was unable to help Hibernian in their 3-0 Scottish Premiership defeat to Kilmarnock.
Kilmarnock were far too good for the Hibs, who replaced Mark Milligan after 86 minutes and a difficult outing in defensive midfield.
In Germany, Mathew Leckie played 90 minutes as Hertha Berlin eased to a 2-0 Bundesliga victory over relegation-threatened Hannover.
And Denmark-based duo James Holland and James Jeggo both featured in 0-0 draws for LASK Linz and Austria Wien respectively.
Elsewhere, James Donachie’s relegated Jeonnam Dragons were beaten 3-1 on the final day of the K-League season at the hands of Incheon United, who left Kwabena Appiah-Kubi on the bench; and Tim Cahill's Jamshedpur played out a 0-0 draw with NorthEast United.
