Debut, assist, & a penalty: Arsenal duo clash on international duty | OneFootball

Nuno Tavares made his debut for Portugal against Poland on Friday, as Jakub Kiwior put in a chaotic performance for the opposition.

Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images

Arsenal duo Nuno Tavares and Jakub Kiwior were both involved in a Nations League match on Friday, as Portugal hosted Poland.

Tavares was hoping to make his debut for the Portugal senior side, but he had to wait after initially being named on the bench. On the other side, Kiwior made the starting lineup for a major test against Bernardo Silva, Pedro Neto, Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leao, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

For a while, it looked like Poland might actually make it through that test, almost reaching the hour mark at 0-0. Then it all fell apart.

Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

In the 59th minute, Leao got ahead of his man to head home for 1-0. Things got worse for Poland and Kiwior 10 minutes later, as the referee spotted a handball from the Arsenal man and awarded a penalty, converted by Ronaldo for 2-0.

Just before the 80-minute mark, Fernandes crashed a shot in off the crossbar for 3-0, before Neto fired in a near-post shot for 4-0.

Ronaldo scored an overhead kick to make it five in the 87th minute, before Kiwior assisted Dominik Marczuk pulling one back.

It was a simple pass and a bonus for the Arsenal defender’s personal record, but nothing more than a consolation in the context of the match, which finished 5-1.

Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images

Arsenal left-back Tavares, currently on loan with Lazio, came on in the 87th minute for his debut.

That wasn’t much time to make an impact, though the 24-year-old did manage to pick up an injury-time yellow card for a foul. He’ll just be pleased to be off the mark with his senior national team.

As for Kiwior, with five clearances, a block, an 88% pass completion rate, and an assist from three chances created, there were positives in the performance. But they were significantly overshadowed by that penalty conceded for one of five Portugal goals in 30 minutes.

Up next, Portugal face Croatia away from home on Monday, November 18th at 19:45 GMT. Having already won the group, perhaps the game will be another chance for Tavares.

As for Poland, they play Scotland on the same day at the same time, needing a draw or a win to avoid automatic relegation to League B.