Just days after declining to show appreciation to fans and voicing his discontent over the jeers, Micky van de Ven endeavored to heal Tottenham’s bruises with a goal that will surely be remembered as one of the most spectacular scored by a center-back.
Starting from the edge of his own penalty area, he charged down the middle of the field, slicing through Copenhagen’s defense with determination, and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot into the net.
Van de Ven recounted to TNT Sports, “I noticed a small opening ahead, so I decided to start dribbling. I watched to see if they could catch up, but the space kept opening up. At some point, I felt like I was clear through. That’s when I knew I had the goal.”
Unable to resist, Van de Ven cupped his ear in celebration. Previously, he and Djed Spence had ignored manager Thomas Frank’s requests to acknowledge the fans after a home loss to Chelsea, as they were upset about both the defeat and the fans’ boos before the final whistle.
“If he’s upset after the game, he can walk past me anytime,” quipped Frank following the victory. “It was as if we had Lionel Messi transformed into Micky van de Ven, covering the field end to end.”
Collecting the ball on the edge of his own penalty area, Van de Ven accelerated down the centre of the pitch, carving through Copenhagen’s defence to score an outrageous solo goal
This was his sixth goal of the season and the third of the evening for Spurs, who had been playing with only 10 men.
It was his sixth goal of the season. And the third of the night for Spurs, who had already been reduced to 10 men.
Brennan Johnson, scorer of the first, had been sent off after a VAR intervention for a sliding tackle from behind, with more than half an hour still to play. The numerical disadvantage did not deter Frank’s team who were destructive on the break as Copenhagen detected a way back into the contest and ventured forward.
Palhinha came on in the reshuffle and added the fourth. Wilson Odobert was also on target and Richarlison twice rattled the woodwork in the closing stages, once from a penalty won by Dane Scarlett.
It all made for a wild ending. Goals, forwards scoring, creators creating. Everybody managed to smile, even Xavi Simons, who had been upset to be sacrificed after the red card when enjoying his best performance in Spurs colours.
Pointedly, Tottenham’s players gathered in the centre of the pitch after the final whistle and walked around the pitch together at the end, clapping the fans, a show of solidarity as the resident DJ gave Bob Marley’s One Love a spin and everybody went home happy even if questions will linger about the quality of Copenhagen.
Can Frank’s team deliver this sort of fluency against better opposition? We will find out. The next three games are against Manchester United, Arsenal and Paris Satin-Germain.
For now, the Danes delivered welcome relief for their compatriot. The Spurs boss had started to look a little beleaguered amid incessant questions about style, creative flair and where the goals might come from.
Here, his team were free-flowing win and the goal spree was sparked by Johnson, last season’s top scorer but used only sparingly by Frank, who dashed clear of goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski to open the scoring in the 19th minute.
Tottenham’s home form in the Premier League has been simply awful, with just three wins this calendar year – but they have a long and impressive record at home in European competition
Xavi Simons’ confidence looked restored and the Dutch playmaker was frustrated to be subbed
Simons made the assist, and confidence came rushing back for the Dutch playmaker who buzzed around demanding the ball and looking to thread passes into the wingers and Randal Kolo Muani, who wasted two clear chances for his first Spurs goal at the end of the first half.
Both opportunities were created by Simons. The first, linking up with Odobert and sliding a pass square. Kolo Muani side-footed it wide when he seemed certain to score. Then a cross clipped from the right, which he headed over.
Kolo Muani could have done with a goal but instead made Tottenham’s second by charging down an attempted clearance by Kotarski then pulling the ball down out of the sky with a sublime touch before lining up Odobert with an open goal.
Briefly, it seemed as if matters might be complicated by Johnson’s red card. Simons was crestfallen to be sacrificed as Spurs strengthened midfield after the red card. He refused to engage with Frank’s attempts at consolation as he came off.
‘I understand his disappointment but it’s always about the team,’ said the Spurs boss and his change appeared to be inspired when Palhinha scored the fourth after a charge out of defence by Cristian Romero with hints of Van de Ven but not as quick.
