Van de Ven Turns On the Style as Spurs Thrash Copenhagen

International football

07/06/1906

Van de Ven’s Solo Magic Lights Up North London

Tottenham Hotspur produced one of their best performances under Thomas Frank, cruising to a 4-0 Champions League win over FC Copenhagen on Tuesday night. The victory’s highlight was a breathtaking solo goal from defender Micky van de Ven that drew comparisons to Lionel Messi.
With Spurs leading 2-0 but reduced to ten men after Brennan Johnson’s red card, Van de Ven collected the ball near his own penalty area and surged forward. The Dutchman sprinted over 70 yards, skipping past several challenges before drilling a low shot past goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium erupted in disbelief.
“It seemed like Lionel Messi turned into Micky van de Ven,” joked Frank. “Running from one box to the other to score like that; fantastic.”

Spurs Bounce Back After Chelsea Defeat

The emphatic win came just days after Spurs’ disappointing 1-0 loss to Chelsea. Frank’s side responded perfectly, dominating from the start with renewed energy and creativity.
Brennan Johnson opened the scoring in the 19th minute after a sharp through ball from Xavi Simons, rounding the keeper and finishing confidently. Wilson Odobert doubled the lead early in the second half, slotting home from close range after a clever move involving Randal Kolo Muani.
Johnson’s dismissal for a late challenge on Marcos López in the 57th minute threatened to swing the game, but Spurs refused to back down. Van de Ven’s solo run settled the contest before substitute Joao Palhinha added a fourth from Cristian Romero’s assist. Spurs still had time for a fifth, but Rircharlson fluffed his lines from the penalty spot deep in stoppage time.

Key Performers and Memorable Moments

Van de Ven’s goal will be replayed for years, but he wasn’t the only standout. Xavi Simons was exceptional in midfield, pulling the strings and creating several chances. Romero was rock-solid at the back and adventurous going forward, while Odobert impressed with his composure and pressing.
Former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves hailed Van de Ven’s strike as “one of the best goals you’ll ever see,” while BBC pundit Curtis Davies described it as “ridiculous for a centre-back.”
Van de Ven has now scored six goals in all competitions this season, more than any other Tottenham defender. His confidence to go on a mazy through through the field underlines the balance Frank has instilled between attack and defence.

Spurs’ Resurgence and European Form

This result extended Tottenham’s unbeaten run in the Champions League to four matches, with two wins and two draws. They sit seventh in the overall standings and remain on course to qualify for the knockout stage.
“It’s all about bounce-back mentality,” said Frank post-match. “We controlled the game from minute one and showed the character of a team that learns fast.”
The victory also served as redemption for Van de Ven, who had apologised earlier in the week after appearing to ignore Frank following the Chelsea defeat. His stunning goal made sure the headlines told a very different story this time.

What’s Next

Tottenham return to Premier League action on Saturday when they host Manchester United. A win would cap off a strong response to their recent setback and build momentum heading into the international break. After the international break, Spurs make the short trip of the Emirates Stadium for the North London derby before facing PSG in the champions league on November 26th.
Copenhagen, meanwhile, will look to recover quickly as they prepare to face Velje this weekend in the Danish Superliga. Their next European excursion is on November 26th when they host Azerbaijan side Kairat Almaty.

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