Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven celebrates after scoring their third aim in the course of the UEFA Champions League, in opposition to FC Copenhagen on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. PHOTO: AFP
LONDON:
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven obtained again in favour with Thomas Frank because the defender’s gorgeous solo aim in Tuesday’s 4-0 rout of Copenhagen drew comparisons with Lionel Messi.
Van de Ven and Djed Spence have been pressured to apologise to Tottenham boss Frank this week after they ignored his plea to applaud followers following Saturday’s loss to Chelsea.
The pair, pissed off by boos from offended Tottenham followers in the course of the Premier League defeat, walked straight down the tunnel quite than comply with Frank’s order.
However Van de Ven retained his place within the beginning line-up and made peace along with his supervisor and the supporters with a Champions League second of magic.
He ran over half the size of the pitch earlier than delivering a scientific end that ranks among the many greatest objectives scored within the Champions League to this point this season.
By then Tottenham have been already main by two objectives due to strikes from Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert in north London.
Johnson was despatched off within the second half when his lunge on Marcos Lopez was upgraded from a reserving to a crimson card after VAR intervened.
Joao Palhinha netted the fourth aim as Tottenham gained for less than the second time of their final six matches in all competitions.
Saluting Van de Ven’s wonder-goal, Frank invoked Argentine celebrity Messi.
“That may very well be the aim of the season. It was like Messi become a centre again,” he stated.
Van de Ven added: “I began dribbling and I assumed I’d see if they’d catch up. They did not. I felt superb.”
Frank’s facet stay unbeaten on this season’s Champions League with two wins and two attracts forward of their journey to holders Paris Saint-Germain later in November.
Tottenham had produced just one shot on the right track in opposition to Chelsea as they endured one more dismal defeat on dwelling turf in 2025.
However this was precisely the type of attacking show that Tottenham followers demand, albeit their first dwelling win since September 24 got here in opposition to weak opponents.
“In life and soccer after a nasty efficiency or state of affairs it’s about the way you react,” Frank stated.
“Our gamers have had a fantastic bounce-back mentality in the previous couple of days. They’ve needed to show issues round and win. We managed it from minute one and even after the crimson card.”
Slick Spurs
Frank’s males have been gifted the lead within the nineteenth minute.
Xavi Simons’ incisive lengthy move despatched Johnson racing by on aim, prompting goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski to rashly race out of his space.
Kotarski made a whole hash of the try and intercept Johnson’s run and the Wales winger calmly slotted into the empty internet from an acute angle for his first aim in 9 matches.
Tottenham made it two within the 51st minute and as soon as once more Kotarski was at fault as he recklessly sprinted out of his space and smashed a panicked clearance straight at Randal Kolo Muani.
The ball looped over Kotarski and Kolo Muani rolled it again to Odobert, who slotted dwelling from shut vary.
Johnson was dismissed within the fifty fifth minute after clattering into Lopez, a useless problem that originally earned a yellow card from
Erik Lambrechts earlier than VAR despatched him trudging to the dressing room.
Tottenham have been nonetheless far too slick for Copenhagen and Van de Ven sealed the sport within the sixty fourth minute.
Advancing from inside his personal half, the Dutch centre-back swept by the Copenhagen defence, evading a pair of tackles earlier than smashing a superb low end past Kotarski from simply inside the realm.
Van de Ven cheekily cupped his ear to the group earlier than team-mates made some extent of embracing him to point out their assist after Saturday’s spat.
Palhinha slid a scientific end previous Kotarski from six yards within the 67th minute.
Richarlison ought to have made it 5 however he blasted a stoppage-time penalty in opposition to the bar after Dane Scarlett was fouled by Viktor Claesson.
