Micky van de Ven for the Puskas Award? That's the question on everyone's lips after Tottenham's stunning 4-0 Champions League victory over Copenhagen! Despite going down to ten men, Spurs delivered a masterclass, leaving fans in awe. This performance might just be the best of the season so far.
Let's rewind to the beginning. Tottenham wasted no time, taking the lead before the 20-minute mark. A Copenhagen error gifted Rodrigo Bentancur the ball, who then found Xavi Simons. Simons spotted Brennan Johnson's run, and the Welshman coolly slotted the ball in from a tight angle.
Spurs could have doubled their lead before halftime, but Randal Kolo Muani uncharacteristically missed a close-range opportunity.
Early in the second half, Spurs found their second goal. Pedro Porro's long ball was chased down by Kolo Muani, who blocked the goalkeeper's clearance and then unselfishly passed to Wilson Odobert for the finish.
But here's where it gets controversial... Johnson received a red card in the 57th minute. This could have been a turning point, but Tottenham rose to the challenge. Joao Palhinha won the ball back on the edge of the Spurs penalty area, and then Micky van de Ven sprinted almost the entire length of the pitch before scoring a fantastic goal. Seconds later, Cristian Romero set up Palhinha for the fourth goal.
Richarlison hit the crossbar with a header, and then Spurs were awarded a penalty when Dane Scarlett was tripped. Brazil's No.9 stepped up and, incredibly, hit the bar again. However, it didn't matter as Tottenham cruised to a convincing victory.
Here's a breakdown of how the Spurs players performed:
Goalkeeper & Defence:
- Guglielmo Vicario (6/10): Solid in the goal.
- Pedro Porro (7/10): Improved defensively and provided the assist for Odobert's goal.
- Cristian Romero (7/10): Solid, and even played up front to set up a goal.
- Micky van de Ven (8/10): A standout performance, capped off by an incredible solo goal.
- Destiny Udogie (7/10): Combined well with Odobert.
Midfield:
- Rodrigo Bentancur (7/10): A strong performance in midfield.
- Pape Matar Sarr (7/10): Always looking to move the ball forward.
- Xavi Simons (8/10): His best performance in a Spurs shirt, setting up the first goal.
Attack:
- Brennan Johnson (7/10): Scored a goal but was later sent off.
- Randal Kolo Muani (7/10): Grabbed an assist.
- Wilson Odobert (8/10): Scored a goal and showed good understanding with teammates.
Subs & Manager:
- Joao Palhinha (7/10): Scored a goal after coming on.
- Richarlison (5/10): Hit the bar with a header and penalty.
- Djed Spence (6/10): Came on as a sub.
- Kevin Danso (6/10): Came on as a sub.
- Dane Scarlett (7/10): Won the penalty.
- Thomas Frank (9/10): Made the right calls from the sidelines.
And this is the part most people miss... The team's resilience after Johnson's red card was remarkable. It showed the team's character.
What do you think? Was Van de Ven's goal the best you've seen? Did Johnson deserve the red card? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
