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Goal of the season contender Micky van de Veen helps give Tottenham a boost Thomas Frank With much-needed home comfort after beating Copenhagen 4-0 Champions League,
Frank watched Spurs’ disappointing display during their poor defeat to Chelsea in the London derby on Saturday, which led to boos at full-time and an unfortunate clash between Van de Veen and Jade Spence.
Van de Ven and Spence ignored Frank’s instructions to applaud the home fans but both apologized on Monday after the Dutch defender scored a sensational strike.
Vice-captain Van de Ven headed the ball in from the edge of his own penalty area to score a superb solo goal in the 64th minute.
This put Tottenham 3–0 up, but was decisive as Brennan Johnson, who had scored the opener in the 19th minute, was controversially sent off early in the second half after Wilson Odobert had scored the second goal.
Substitute Joao Palhinha sparked the scoring with 23 minutes remaining, before Richarlison missed a late spot-kick as Spurs secured the biggest win of Frank’s 17-game tenure on the clock to take eight points from the Champions League and keep their hopes of a top-eight finish alive.
After criticizing the team on several occasions on Saturday, Frank recalled last season’s leading scorer Johnson and included Destiny Udogi, who was fit at left-back for the first time since October 4.
xavi simmonsAnother brought in by Frank set up Udogi for a sliced effort straight at Dominik Kotarski and two minutes later the £52million summer recruit scored the opener.
Rodrigo Bentancur found Xavi, who curled through Johnson and Tottenham’s No. 22 cleverly rounded Kotarski before calmly slotting home.
It was Johnson’s 45th goal for Spurs in his 101st match and was vital for a team that had won only four of their previous 20 home matches.
Moments later Johnson almost became the provider but his chipped cross was sent away by Pep Sarr.
Copenhagen’s Youssoufa Moukoko fired straight at Guglielmo Vicario from a corner but the score should have been 2–0 at half-time.
As Xavi’s influence grew, his one-two with Odobert created a golden opportunity for Radican Creation But it went side-footed wide.
Kolo Muani then headed home a brilliant Xavi cross in stoppage time to give Tottenham the lead before getting a second six minutes into the second half.
Pedro Porro’s long pass looked routine for Kotarski but Kolo Muani intercepted the clearance, brought the ball down brilliantly inside the area and fired past Odobert.
This sparked a strange 17-minute spell with a red card for Johnson, followed by two counter-attacks involving the Spurs centre-backs.
Firstly Johnson’s evening ended prematurely and in controversial fashion as he collided with Copenhagen left-back Marcos Lopez. Referee Eric Lambechts showed a yellow card but VAR upgraded it to a red card.
Van de Ven ensured the match never remained in the balance for long as he set up a contender for FIFA’s Puskas Award in the 64th minute.
The Dutch defender received the ball on the edge of his own area and made a barnstorming run before finishing with confidence.
romero Attempted to counter his fellow centre-back when he led the counter-attack and fired past substitute Palhinha three minutes later.
Richarlison still had time to fire a stoppage-time spot-kick against the crossbar but it failed to seal a much-needed home win for the Franks.