‘Unstoppable’ Micky van de Ven produces stunning assist with 70-yard sprint

Micky van de Ven produced a stunning 70-yard run from defence to set up Brennan Johnson’s opening goal at Manchester United in a “special” assist from the Tottenham centre-back.

Van de Ven pounced on a loose ball in the Spurs half after Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford lost possession, before the Dutch international surged forward from inside the halfway line.

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Van de Ven eased away from Manuel Ugarte and past compatriot Matthijs de Ligt to reach the byline before squaring a perfect low cross to the back post, where a grinning Johnson was on hand to tap into the empty net.

It was Johnson’s fourth goal in as many games for Spurs but the forward immediately went to Van de Ven to give the centre-back the acclaim after producing one of the great assists from a centre-back in Premier League history.

“Absolutely brilliant,” said former Manchester United defender Gary Neville. “One of the best runs I’ve ever seen from a centre-back.

“Van de Ven just steps in, and this is absolutely incredible: he drives through four Manchester United players and the cross, well it’s just wonderful.

“There were enough players back to stop it but it was unstoppable. De Ligt starts off running too late and misreads the pace of the centre-back. It’s amazing and devastating.”