Tottenham Hotspur delivered a stunning second-half performance, scoring three goals in an eight-minute blitz to secure a 4-1 victory over West Ham United, shaking off the disappointment of their previous defeat to Brighton.
In their last outing, Spurs had crumbled to a 3-2 loss at Brighton after conceding three rapid goals following halftime.
The international break left manager Ange Postecoglou with ample time to reflect on that collapse, and when West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus gave his side a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute, it seemed as though Spurs might be headed for more frustration.
Kudus took advantage of Tottenham’s slack defending, with Destiny Udogie failing to clear his lines, allowing Jarrod Bowen to exploit the space and set up Kudus, who scuffed his finish into the bottom corner.
Despite the setback, Tottenham’s response was immediate and strong. Dejan Kulusevski leveled the score before halftime with a well-placed shot from 16 yards, rattling the post before crossing the line after being set up by James Maddison, who had driven forward from midfield to create the chance.
Postecoglou’s halftime talk seemed to work wonders, as Spurs came out firing in the second half.
Yves Bissouma slotted home Tottenham’s second goal in the 52nd minute after Udogie played him in with a smart pass inside the box. Just four minutes later, West Ham defender Jean-Clair Todibo inadvertently turned the ball into his own net when a low shot from Son Heung-min, parried by West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, deflected off him and crossed the line.
Tottenham’s pressure continued unabated, and Son put the game beyond doubt on the hour mark, scoring his ninth career goal against the Hammers.
After receiving a pass from Pape Sarr, Son twisted past Todibo and drilled a trademark left-footed finish into the bottom corner, sealing Spurs’ emphatic three-goal burst.
Tottenham almost added a fifth goal moments later, with Son hitting the post, while West Ham’s Kudus saw an effort blocked by Udogie on the goal line.
The Hammers struggled to regain any foothold in the match, and things went from bad to worse for Julen Lopetegui’s side when Kudus was sent off in the 86th minute after shoving Pape Sarr in the face.
Referee Andrew Madley consulted VAR before showing the red card for violent conduct.
Although West Ham had previously entered the international break on a high, after a commanding 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town, they were unable to replicate that form against a revitalized Spurs side, leaving Lopetegui with plenty to ponder.
Spurs, bolstered by the return of captain Son and the energetic Brennan Johnson, who came close to scoring early on, showed remarkable resilience and firepower.
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario also played his part, tipping a powerful Kudus strike over the bar in the first half, while Areola was kept busy denying Johnson and others in a pulsating game where Tottenham’s dominance eventually shone through.
