Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur bounced back from a demoralising 1-0 defeat to Chelsea on the weekend with an emphatic 4-0 win over FC Copenhagen on Tuesday night, with Micky van de Ven scoring perhaps the goal of the season.
Frank needed his men to put the defeat to the Blues behind them, and they did just that, although the Danish side were there for the taking. The opener came in the 19th minute as the visitors were caught out on the break, and Spurs punished the Danes.
Xavi Simons, who has been under heavy criticism as of late, did well to find Brennan Johnson, who was helped on his way to goal by Dominik Kotarski, who hopelessly raced out of goal, and Johnson took the ball past the Croatian goalkeeper before finding the back of the net.
The Lilywhites should have been two-up in the 40th minute when Frank’s troops put together a fine move that saw Simons gift Randal Kolo Muani the chance to net his first goal for the club. But the Frenchman sent the ball just wide of Kotarski’s goal when he should have been wheeling away in celebration.
Kolo Muani did himself no favors in the battle to be Frank’s number nine as he again was wasteful on the stroke of half-time. This time, he sent a header over the bar, preventing Simons from registering his second assist of the night.
It was finally 2-0 in the 51st minute and while Kolo Muani struggled finding the back of the net, he did well setting up Wilson Odobert. He brought the ball down after more madness from Kotarski and the winger easily tapped home the second.
Frank seemed to be in for a perfect night until Johnson went from hero to villain with a needless foul in the 57th minute. The Welshman was shown a straight red after VAR intervened and decided his studs-up tackle warranted a sending off.
Micky van de Ven quickly lifted the spirits again with one of the best goals you will see from a center half. The Dutchman charged forward in a flash, leaving Copenhagen’s players with egg on their face as he surged into the box and calmly fired past Kotarski.
Cristian Romero decided anything Van de Ven can do I can do as the Argentine found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. He managed to pick out second-half substitute Joao Palhinha who beat the offside trap for his side’s fourth.
Match Highlights
Still to come…
Tottenham Hotspur
GK: Gugliemo Vicario – 6/10
The Italian goalkeeper came in for a relatively quiet night but he was reliable when called upon.
Pedro Porro – 7/10
The Portuguese right-back did well handling the opposition and usually found his man on set pieces.
Cristian Romero – 7.5/10
Came back into Frank’s starting XI and was dependable, closing the opposition down when they tried to break. His manager will just be praying he remains fit from here on out.
Micky van de Ven – 8.5/10
An unbelievable goal that takes his tally to six goals this season. He was back to his best defensively, and his solo goal will definitely have earned a handshake from Frank.
Destiny Udogie – 7/10
A lively threat down the left with his agility giving Odobert an option on the overlap. The Italian even tested Kotarski in the first half and put in a performance that should be enough to see him keep his place against Manchester United on Saturday.
Brennan Johnson – 6/10
The Welsh attacker performed so well before his sending off, as he now has four goals this season. He came up trumps with a clever finish for the opener but he saw red for his rash tackle to give Frank a real headache ahead of Paris Saint-Germain.
Rodrigo Bentancur – 8/10
A reminder of just how talented the Uruguayan is on his day, as he was excellent each time he got hold of the ball in the middle of the park. Frank should stick with this system as it reaps rewards, and Bentancur’s display is a prime example.
Pape Matar Sarr – 7/10
A neat and tidy performance that saw him control proceedings with his positional awareness, bombing up and down the pitch. He is one of Frank’s most consistent performers.
Wilson Odobert – 7/10
Linked up well with Udogie to help on the break and was eager to get himself on the scoresheet and could be one for Frank to keep in mind for Paris next time out.
CAM: Xavi Simons – 7.5/10
Tonight’s showing was just what the Dutch attacker will have wanted after a nightmare start to his Spurs career. He reminded fans just why the club swooped for his signature and his pick out for Johnson deserves praise.
ST: Randal Kolo Muani – 6/10
The French frontman is taking his time adjusting to life in North London and Frank stuck with him after the Chelsea defeat. But he should have found the back of the net twice in the first half, spurning two golden opportunities to get his Spurs career started. At least grabbed himself an assist after more calamity from Kotarski.
SUB: Joao Palhinha – 7/10
The Portuguese midfielder has been a surprise package in front of goal since arriving on loan and he managed to get on the scoresheet from the bench.
SUB: Richarlison – 6/10
Played with a purpose after coming on and a header hit the bar and agonizingly failed to cross the line. Promising at times but the penalty hitting the woodwork sums up his frustrating period.
SUB: Dane Scarlett – N/A
SUB: Kevin Danso – N/A
FC Copenhagen
Dominik Kotarski – 4/10
Made the clumsy decision to come racing out of his goal, which allowed Johnson to take full advantage. He looked a bag of nerves after this and would have conceded three by half-time if not for Kolo Muani’s wastefulness.
RB: Junnosuke Suzuki – 5/10
Spurs had much joy down the right channel and Udogie’s pace and Odobert’s skill were problematic for the Japanese full-back. He is usually defensively assured, but there were nervous moments tonight.
CB: Gabriel Pereira – 5/10
Whenever the hosts were on the attack they looked like scoring and that was due to the vulnerability at the back. He was too slow closing down a tricky Spurs frontline.
CB: Pantelis Hatzdiakos – 5.5/10
Was the better of the two Copenhagen central defenders but still failed to handle the likes of Simons and Odobert.
LB: Marcos Lopez – 4.5/10
Beaten too easily whenever Spurs broke forward and he looked shaky most of the time.
A very quiet night for the son of Henrik Larsson, who just couldn’t influence the game in any fashion. Rightfully withdrawn at halftime as Jacob Neestrup grew impatient.
Lukas Lerager – 5/10
Spurs eased their way through the middle on so many occasions and the veteran Dane couldn’t keep up with the pace of the hosts each time they broke forward.
William Clem – 5/10
Much like Lerager, he was often second best in duels against Spurs’ midfield duo Bentancur and Sarr and lacked much-needed creativity to spark Copenhagen into life.
Elias Achouri – 6.5/10
The Tunisian was Copenhagen’s standout performer whose pace and energy were a nuisance for the likes of Porro and Romero. He was just missing the killer instinct as he wasted one or two good chances.
Yossoufa Moukoko – 5/10
There’s a reason Borussia Dortmund were prepared to sell the German striker this past summer and he was ineffective in North London, rarely threatening a Spurs defence that was wounded by the Chelsea defeat.
Mohamed Elyounoussi – 5/10
Likewise, a very lacklustre night in North London for the former Southampton man, who wasn’t at the races.
SUB: Viktor Dadason – 4.5/10
The 17-year-old was ineffective and kept quiet by a dominant Spurs defence.
SUB: Andreas Cornelius – 4.5/10
Another attacker who didn’t manage to make an impact.
SUB: Viktor Claesson – N/A
SUB: Robert – N/A
