Champions League shaken by an incredible solo goal reminiscent of Son Heung-min

Tottenham had a brilliant night against Copenhagen, with center-back Micky van de Ven stealing the spotlight thanks to a goal considered an early contender for the season’s best — a solo run starting from his own half that electrified the entire stadium.

At the 65th minute of the match between Tottenham and Copenhagen in the Champions League, Van de Ven received the ball just outside Tottenham’s penalty area, facing a dense Copenhagen defense. Instead of passing forward, the Dutch defender surprisingly took the ball himself, dribbling past numerous opponents. He used explosive speed to evade at least four visiting players before unleashing a precise left-footed shot that struck the far corner of the net.

The entire journey spanning over 75 meters happened in just a few seconds — a rare solo effort from a center-back. Spurs fans immediately rose to applaud, while social media buzzed with comments calling it a “Son Heung-min 2.0 goal,” recalling the spectacular strike that earned the Korean star the 2020 Puskas Award.

Earlier, Tottenham took the lead through Brennan Johnson in the 19th minute, but the Welsh player was later sent off in the second half after VAR confirmed a harsh foul. Despite being a man down, the North London side maintained dominance. Wilson Odobert doubled the lead before Van de Ven extended it to 3-0 with his classic solo goal. Near the end, Joao Palhinha scored the fourth, while Richarlison missed a penalty in stoppage time.

After the match, Van de Ven couldn’t hide his excitement: “We needed this win after losing to Chelsea. I saw space ahead and thought, ‘Why not try?’ I just kept running, seeing more and more gaps until… I scored. It felt amazing.”

The Dutch player also emphasized the team’s composure despite playing with ten men: “When the red card came, I knew it would be tough, but we stayed calm, did what was necessary, and finished the game off.”

With this goal, Van de Ven has now scored six times this season, becoming Tottenham’s top scorer — a surprising figure for a center-back. He is proving that he is not only the defensive engine but also a potent attacking threat when needed.

After the game, coach Thomas Frank gave special praise to his player: “It felt like we just witnessed Lionel Messi transform into Micky van de Ven. He ran from his own half all the way to the opponent’s goal — a magnificent goal. I believe he is currently our top scorer and could score many more.”

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