Spurs run riot in second half to heap further misery on struggling Hammers

A rampant second-half performance from Spurs gave Ange Postecoglou’s side a convincing 4-1 victory over West Ham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Spurs scored three times in just eight minutes after the break to claim all three points as well as the bragging rights in the London derby.

Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma, Heung-Min Son and an own goal ensured the hosts put firmly behind them the defeat to Brighton a fortnight ago – a result that Postecoglou called the worst since taking over.

Mohammed Kudus, who was sent off in the closing stages of the match, had given the visitors an early lead but a much-improved Spurs in the second 45 to heap further misery onto West Ham’s tough start to the season under new boss Julen Lopetegui.

North London. pic.twitter.com/P8yzmadZUS

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 19, 2024

Buoyed by the return of captain Son, Tottenham dominated the ball in the early stages but failed to carve out any clear-cut chances in the Saturday sunshine.

Both teams had been left to stew over poor results prior to the international break but Kudus gave the travelling fans something to shout about after ten minutes when he drew a smart save from Guglielmo Vicario.

Jarrod Bowen picked up the ball on West Ham’s right-hand side and ran at Micky Van de Ven before sending a low cross across the box.

Kudus, charging onto the ball at the far post, swept a first-time shot towards goal but Vicario was equal to it, reacting superbly to push it over the bar.

But on 18 minutes, the visitors took the lead when Bowen again sent in a cross that deflected towards Kudus, whose scuffed shot nestled into the net from 10 yards.

Spurs then started to turn the screw. First, the in-form Brennan Johnson headed wide from Destiny Udogie’s clipped cross when he should have perhaps bagged his eighth goal in eight games.

Pedro Porro then tried his luck from the edge of the area but his deflected shot drew a fine stop from Areola.

Kulusevski has been one of Spurs’ brightest sparks in attack so far this season and it was the Sweden captain who levelled the tie just minutes later.

Dejan Kulusevski squeezes one in and it’s 1-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 💥

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 19, 2024

West Ham surrendered possession in Spurs’ defensive third, allowing James Maddison to break away up field and feed Kulusevski.

The skillful winger cut inside on to his favoured left foot and hit a shot that eluded Areola, the ball striking the inside near post before rolling into the far side of the net.

Tottenham’s tails were up. Aaron Wan-Bissaka hacked away a Porro cross with Son poised to pounce at the far post, and moments later, the Spaniard unleashed a wonderful piece of improvisation, a scissor-volley reminiscent of Paolo Di Canio’s famous strike, that flew just over the bar.

Postecoglou then replaced Maddison with Pape Sarr at the break, a tactical decision that paid off almost instantly.

In just eight second-half minutes, Spurs had effectively put the tie to bed as they raced into a three-goal lead.

On 52-minutes, Bissouma found the net when his shot wrongfooted Areola and bobbled in.

The West Ham keeper was then harshly credited with an own goal three minutes later before Son added a fourth when, after dizzying Jean-Clair Todibo with a couple of stepovers, unleashed a left-footed drive that beat Areola at the near post.

Heung-min Son makes it 4⃣ and Spurs are running away with it 🤍

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/wMKOWRcX5J

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 19, 2024

A rampant Spurs looked dangerous every time they ventured forward. Son hit the post before being substituted to a standing ovation from the home crowd.

Kulusevski then curled an effort not far wide from the edge of the box before Areola saved well from Johnson.

Lopetegui rang the changes with a triple substitution on the hour mark, but the replacements did little to alter the momentum of the match as Spurs continued to probe.

With the game petering out, West Ham frustrations eventually boiled over when Kudus twice kicked out at Van de Ven.

After a VAR check, the Ghanaian was subsequently given his marching orders to compound matters on another difficult day for Lopetegui’s side.

Spurs, meanwhile, move up to sixth in the table.