Micky van de Ven delivered a breathtaking solo goal as Tottenham cruised to a 4-0 victory over Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League, restoring pride after a turbulent week.
The Dutch defender, who was reprimanded alongside Djed Spence for walking off without acknowledging fans following the defeat to Chelsea, made amends in style with a strike that left supporters and pundits comparing him to Lionel Messi.
After goals from Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert had set Spurs on course, Van de Ven picked up the ball inside his own half, surged past multiple defenders, and finished clinically into the bottom corner.
It was a moment of pure brilliance that manager Thomas Frank hailed as “like Messi turned into a centre back.”
Joao Palhinha added the fourth to seal a commanding win, despite Spurs being reduced to ten men when Johnson was sent off after a VAR review.
Frank’s side, unbeaten in this season’s Champions League with two wins and two draws, produced the perfect response to their Premier League setback.
“After a bad moment, it’s about how you react,” said the manager. “The players showed real determination to put things right.”
Copenhagen’s goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski endured a nightmare evening, twice at fault for Tottenham’s opening goals before Van de Ven’s dazzling run buried any hopes of a comeback.
The victory marked Spurs’ first home win since late September and showcased a much-needed return to fluency and confidence in attack.
