Van de Ven Stunner Lifts 10-Man Spurs to UCL Glory

Published: 05 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online

Tottenham Hotspur delivered a stirring Champions League performance under the lights at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, defeating Copenhagen 4-0 despite playing much of the second half with ten men. The match will long be remembered for Micky van de Ven’s breathtaking solo goal—a run from his own penalty area that evoked memories of Son Heung-min’s Puskás Award-winning strike against Burnley in 2019. On a night when passion, resilience, and skill combined in spectacular fashion, Spurs finally rediscovered their rhythm and gave their fans the cathartic victory they had been craving.

The evening began with tension thick in the air. Following a dispiriting Premier League defeat to Chelsea just days earlier, frustrations had been mounting among supporters. The home atmosphere, usually buoyant on European nights, had felt uncertain in recent weeks. But as the whistle blew, Spurs immediately looked intent on rewriting the narrative.

The opening stages saw Tottenham play with energy and cohesion, pressing high and exploiting spaces behind the Copenhagen defense. Xavi Simons, operating in the No. 10 role, orchestrated the play masterfully, threading passes through tight gaps and constantly probing the Danish side’s fragile back line. It was from one of his perfectly measured through balls that Brennan Johnson broke the deadlock in the 19th minute.

Copenhagen’s Gabriel Pereira had just misplaced a routine pass in midfield, allowing Simons to pounce. Spotting Johnson’s darting run, the midfielder curved an inch-perfect ball between two defenders. Johnson accelerated beyond them, rounded goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski, and finished coolly from a tight angle to ignite the stadium. For Spurs, it felt like the release of weeks of frustration—a lead thoroughly deserved after a blistering start.

Copenhagen, who sit fourth in the Danish Superliga and had collected just a single point from their previous three Champions League matches, looked overwhelmed. Their inability to handle Spurs’ press left them stranded in their own half for long spells. When they did venture forward, they were met with the towering presence of Van de Ven and Cristian Romero, who snuffed out attacks with authority.

Spurs’ dominance continued as Simons and Wilson Odobert began to toy with the visitors. Just before the break, Simons produced two golden chances for Randal Kolo Muani, who inexplicably failed to convert either. First, after a slick one-two with Odobert, Kolo Muani dragged his shot wide from close range. Minutes later, he rose unmarked to meet a perfect Simons cross but headed over from six yards. It was wasteful, yet Tottenham’s control was absolute.

That dominance paid off early in the second half. Kotarski, whose hesitation had already cost his team once, again faltered when chasing a long ball. Kolo Muani pressed him relentlessly, forcing a mistake that left the goal exposed. As the loose ball looped into the air, Kolo Muani recovered it superbly, cushioning it down before squaring to Odobert, who calmly slotted home to make it 2-0. The home crowd erupted—Spurs were cruising.

Then came the only blemish of the night. In the 57th minute, Johnson’s eagerness to track back turned costly when he caught Marcos López with a clumsy challenge. Initially shown a yellow, he was dismissed after the referee, Erik Lambrechts, reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor. It was harsh but technically correct—his studs had grazed López’s Achilles.

For a brief moment, the mood darkened. Copenhagen sensed a lifeline, while some Spurs supporters groaned at the prospect of another night unraveling. Yet instead of folding, the ten men of Tottenham responded with spirit and style.

And then came the moment that will live in the memory of every fan present. In the 68th minute, Van de Ven intercepted a loose ball deep in his own half. What followed was pure footballing poetry. Striding forward with the pace and balance of a sprinter, he skipped past one challenge, then another, bursting through the heart of Copenhagen’s midfield. With every yard, belief grew that he might just go all the way. Four defenders tried in vain to stop him, but none could catch the Dutchman. Reaching the edge of the opposing penalty area, he unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike that flew past Kotarski into the bottom corner.

Anfield had its Gerrard moment. North London now had its Van de Ven moment. The stadium exploded in disbelief and joy, with even the coaching staff leaping from the bench in awe. It was his sixth goal of the season—an astonishing tally for a centre-half—and one that instantly entered the conversation for goal of the year.

The goal seemed to lift every player in a white shirt. João Palhinha, introduced as a substitute, added a fourth after a neat passing sequence. Tottenham could have had a fifth when Richarlison won a late penalty, but his effort thundered against the crossbar and bounced out. A few boos rippled around as some felt Dane Scarlett, who had won the spot kick, deserved the chance. Yet even that minor controversy couldn’t dampen the euphoric mood.

Xavi Simons, instrumental in everything positive for Spurs, was withdrawn after Johnson’s red card—a decision that disappointed him visibly. But his earlier brilliance had already set the tone. Arne Slot’s tactical discipline and quick transitions exposed Copenhagen’s sluggishness repeatedly. The visitors’ inability to cope with Spurs’ pressing and pace left them demoralized, their defensive line stretched and disjointed.

The post-match scenes reflected the sense of renewal. The fans, who had arrived anxious and expectant, sang long after the final whistle. Van de Ven, smiling shyly as chants of his name echoed around the ground, summed up the emotion: relief, joy, and unity. “It felt special,” he told reporters. “The team needed this, and we showed what we can do together—even with ten men.”

For Tottenham, this victory represents far more than three points. It reaffirmed their identity—an attacking, relentless side capable of dazzling football even under adversity. With eight points from four unbeaten matches, they now sit comfortably in their Champions League group and can begin to dream of a deep run.

Copenhagen, on the other hand, leave London with questions. Their defensive lapses, lack of intensity, and limited creativity suggest a team in need of recalibration. For them, qualification hopes are now hanging by a thread.

But this night belonged to Spurs—to the roar of the crowd, the resilience of a ten-man side, and above all, to Micky van de Ven’s sensational solo strike. It was a moment of magic that transcended tactics and statistics—a goal that will live in the collective memory of Tottenham fans for years to come.