- Micky van de Ven produced a stunning assist to set up Brennan Johnson
- The Spurs defender’s good run started when he took the ball from Marcus Rashford
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Micky van de Ven provided his second athletic assist of the season and scored Tottenham’s opening goal at Manchester United on Sunday.
The Dutch defender met a heavy touch from Marcus Rashford before dribbling forward more than 60 yards at pace and crossing to tap Brennan Johnson.
Ex-United captain Gary Neville responded to the goal by praising the Dutch star. “Brilliant,” Neville said live on Sky Sports. ‘Absolutely brilliant from Van de Ven. One of the best runs I’ve ever seen from a central defender.’
However, many fans took to social media to blame Rashford for losing the ball too easily and not trying hard enough to win it back.
One wrote: ‘Rashford could have shown effort and made a mistake, or tackled Van de Ven on the spot. But as usual he shows an attitude and waves as if he is angry, and then we were punished. He lacks the aggression, the will to win and fight for the team. Rashford is talented, but a shame.’
Micky van de Ven (left) intercepted the ball after a heavy touch from Marcus Rashford (center)
Van de Ven then carried the ball forward with remarkable speed before providing an assist
After sprinting past some Red Devils players, Van de Ven produced a precise low cross
Van de Ven raised his fist in celebration after Brennan Johnson (not in shot) scored for Spurs
Rashford appeared frustrated during the first half at Old Trafford and was criticized by fans
Another fan fumed: “Typical Marcus Rashford. It’s all his fault that goal. Terrible touch.”
A third post on X (formerly Twitter) read: ‘Marcus Rashford made a huge contribution to Tottenham’s opening goal, lol. What a rash move to get two tough defenders.”
Before Rashford lost the ball to Van de Ven, he had run past Destiny Udogie. Van de Ven’s remarkable run then saw him beaten clear of Rashford, Manuel Ugarte, Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt before his cross eluded Lisandro Martínez.
A fourth fan suggested that both Ugarte and Rashford deserved blame for Johnson’s goal.
They wrote: ‘Rashford had absolutely no interest once he lost and Ugarte, the player they signed as ball winner, could no longer get near Van de Ven.’