Spurs 4 – 0 Copenhagen

Tottenham put up a brilliant performance to thump Copenhagen 4-0 at the Tottenham Stadium yesterday. Goals from Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert, Joao Palhinha and a Puskas worthy goal from Micky Van De Ven sealed a comfortable victory for the Lilywhites even as they played the match a man down for over 30 minutes after the sending off of Brennan Johnson.

Randall Kolo Muani started up top for Spurs, with Xavi Simmons in the attacking midfield role behind him and Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert on the wings. Destiny Udogie also returned into the starting eleven for Spurs. Mohamed Elyounoussi and Youssoufa Moukoko started up top in a 442 formation for Copenhagen.

From minute 1, Tottenham Hotspur displayed the kind of attacking performance and self-belief desperately needed following their recent domestic struggles, securing a comprehensive 4-0 victory over FC Copenhagen at home in the Champions League. The match was a high-octane affair that ultimately hinged on two contradictory events, a controversial sending-off, and a goal of spectacular individual brilliance that immediately followed.

The flow of the first half was dictated almost entirely by Tottenham’s attack, yet they were made to wait for the opener. Copenhagen’s resistance was punctured in the 15th minute when Gabriel Pereira received the first Yellow Card of the game for tripping a Tottenham player. Just four minutes later, Tottenham finally took the lead in the 19th minute. Xavi Simons, who was pivotal in the attacking midfield role, threaded a fine ball through the defense to find Brennan Johnson on the run. Johnson showed composure to round the rushing goalkeeper, Dominik Kotarski, before coolly slotting the ball into the net from a tight angle.

Despite the dominant scoreline, the score should have been higher before the break. Randal Kolo Muani was particularly wasteful in front of goal. In the 40th minute, following an excellent passing move involving Simons and Odobert, Kolo Muani received the ball close to goal but fired his shot wide, wasting a clear opportunity that would have doubled the lead. Kolo Muani’s frustration was palpable earlier in the 39th minute when he was booked with a yellow card for a holding foul. As the teams went into Half-Time, Tottenham held a 1-0 lead at the break, having controlled the game but failed to maximize their chances.

The second half began with Copenhagen making a tactical adjustment in the 46th minute, as Jordan Larsson came on for a teammate. However, the substitution did little to stop the Tottenham attack and in the 51st minute, Tottenham doubled their advantage. Randal Kolo Muani redeemed himself for his earlier miss not with a goal, but with sheer work rate and an assist, aggressively pressing Copenhagen keeper Dominik Kotarski. Kolo Muani blocked the keeper’s attempted clearance, controlled the loose ball, and then calmly set up Wilson Odobert, who slotted home into the open net.

Just as Tottenham looked set to cruise to a comfortable win, the match took a dramatic turn. In the 55th minute, Brennan Johnson went from hero to zero when he was shown a red card. The referee initially brandished a yellow card for a late, studs-up tackle on Marcos López, but after a VAR review at the pitch-side monitor, the decision was upgraded to a straight red, reducing Tottenham to ten men.

The immediate aftermath of the sending-off threatened to shift the momentum, forcing Tottenham manager Thomas Frank into a defensive substitution in the 61st minute, with Joao Palhinha coming on to reinforce the midfield in place of Xavi Simons. Copenhagen attempted to assert their man advantage, but their rising frustration led to Junnosuke Suzuki receiving a Yellow Card for a cynical foul in the 62nd minute.

Then came the moment that defined the entire match. In the 64th minute, while a man down, Micky van de Ven scored a truly sensational solo goal. The towering Dutch centre-back collected the ball deep on the edge of his own penalty box and began a breathtaking run, sprinting the entire length of the field while dribbling past multiple Copenhagen players who could not keep pace. He capped the extraordinary move by firing a fine low, left-footed finish past Kotarski. This unforgettable goal not only restored the team’s confidence but completely crushed any hope of a Copenhagen comeback.

The goal restored Tottenham’s confidence and just three minutes later, in the 67th minute, Tottenham scored a fourth on a swift counter-attack. Substitute Joao Palhinha sealed his contribution by sliding a clinical finish past the goalkeeper.

With the match effectively over, both sides made a flurry of changes between the 72nd and 73rd minutes, with Copenhagen replacing three players and Tottenham bringing on Richarlison, Djed Spence, and Kevin Danso. Dane Scarlett came on for Wilson Odobert in the 80th minute, adding more pace up front.

In the 90th minute, the chaotic end-of-game action continued. Lukas Lerager received a late Yellow Card for a foul. Then, Tottenham were awarded a late Penalty after Dane Scarlett was fouled in the box. Substitute Richarlison stepped up to take the spot-kick but smashed his shot off the crossbar, failing to convert the chance.
Despite the missed penalty and the second-half red card, the final whistle confirmed a dominant 4-0 Full-Time victory for Tottenham, a crucial result that moved them into a strong position in the Champions League League Phase table.