Tottenham Hotspur produced their most complete performance of the season to sweep aside Copenhagen 4-0 in the Champions League, even after being reduced to ten men following Brennan Johnson’s red card.
The night belonged to centre-back Micky van de Ven, whose extraordinary solo goal — a lung-bursting run from his own penalty area, beating five opponents before scoring — will live long in the memory. It was the highlight of an emphatic response from Thomas Frank’s side, who were booed off after their 1-0 defeat to Chelsea just four days earlier but left the pitch to rapturous applause on Tuesday night.
Spurs Shine Early
Tottenham set the tone from the start, pressing high and moving the ball with speed. They opened the scoring in the 19th minute after capitalising on a Copenhagen mistake. Rodrigo Bentancur intercepted a loose pass before feeding Xavi Simons, whose precise chip over the defence found Johnson. The Welshman calmly rounded goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski and slotted home for 1-0.
Copenhagen looked unsettled, their defence repeatedly stretched by Spurs’ pace. Richarlison and Simons both went close before halftime, but Kotarski’s saves and some last-ditch defending kept the scoreline respectable.
Odobert Doubles the Lead
Six minutes after the break, Spurs doubled their advantage. Randal Kolo Muani charged down a clearance and slipped the ball to Wilson Odobert, who finished coolly from close range. The French teenager’s goal reflected Tottenham’s dominance — quick, direct and ruthless.
However, moments later, Spurs’ momentum appeared to stall when Johnson was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Marcos Lopez. His dismissal looked set to hand Copenhagen a lifeline.
Instead, it had the opposite effect. Spurs regrouped, tightened up, and delivered one of the goals of the season.
Van de Ven’s Moment of Magic
In the 64th minute, Van de Ven collected the ball deep inside his own half and surged forward on a breathtaking run. Beating five defenders with pace and strength, he drove into the box and finished superbly into the bottom corner — a goal that brought the entire stadium to its feet.
It was a stunning moment from the Dutch defender, who has now scored three goals in his past four games. His celebration was one of pure joy — a player reborn after facing criticism for appearing to ignore Frank at the weekend.
The Dutchman’s goal all but sealed victory, but Spurs were not done yet. Three minutes later, Joao Palhinha made it 4-0, finishing unmarked after Cristian Romero’s clever pass across the box.
Late Drama and Redemption
Tottenham could have added a fifth in stoppage time when Richarlison was brought down in the area. But the Brazilian’s luck deserted him again as he smashed his penalty against the crossbar — summing up his frustrating night.
Even so, the final whistle was met with jubilant scenes. The fans who jeered at the weekend were now singing Frank’s name. The display was everything the coach had demanded: intensity, discipline, and flair, even with ten men.
A Turning Point for Frank
After their domestic slump, this victory could prove pivotal for Spurs. They now have eight points from four Champions League matches, sitting seventh overall in the league phase — a position that would take them straight into the last 16 without the need for a play-off.
The win was also a statement of intent from a squad eager to silence critics. Simons sparkled in midfield, Bentancur dictated tempo, and Van de Ven marshalled the defence with authority and flair.
Credit must also go to the Copenhagen supporters, who never stopped singing despite their team being comprehensively outplayed.
Tottenham’s focus now shifts back to the Premier League, with a home clash against Manchester United on Saturday before a fierce North London derby against Arsenal later this month.
If this performance is any indication, Spurs may have rediscovered both their form and their fire.
Player of the Match: Micky van de Ven (Rating: 9.05)
