After a challenging couple of weeks filled with frustration from a classic Tottenham collapse, Ange Postecoglou finally found the perfect antidote.
His squad delivered a stunning performance, scoring four goals to secure a vital victory over one of their biggest London rivals.
This emphatic win not only answered lingering questions about the team’s character but also showcased a significant second-half transformation, largely thanks to a bold substitution.
Tactical Changes Make All the Difference
At halftime, with the score tied, Postecoglou made a daring move by subbing out crowd favorite James Maddison for the often underrated Pape Matar Sarr.
This strategic decision injected new energy into the midfield, restoring balance and having an immediate impact on the game.
“We stepped up our game in the second half,” Postecoglou said.
“We needed more running power in midfield, and Pape has that in spades. His energy helped us regain control and set a solid platform for our attack.”
A Flurry of Goals
The match took a decisive turn with three quick goals from Spurs in just eight minutes.
Yves Bissouma and Heung-min Son both found the net, sandwiched around an unfortunate own goal.
Son, returning from injury, shone on the counterattack, while Dejan Kulusevski, who opened the scoring, proved instrumental in midfield.
Match Details
Tottenham (4-3-3):
Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie (Gray 88), Bissouma (Bentancur 82), Maddison (Sarr 46), Kulusevski, Johnson, Son (Werner 70), Solanke (Richarlison 81)
Unused Subs: Bergvall, Dragusin, Forster, Moore
Scorers: Kulusevski 36, Bissouma 52, Areola 55 OG, Son 60
Booked: Van de Ven
Manager: Ange Postecoglou
West Ham (4-1-4-1):
Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson, Rodriguez (Mavropanos 70), Kudus, Paqueta (Alvarez 61), Soucek (Soler 61), Antonio (Summerville 61)
Unused Subs: Coufal, Cresswell, Fabianski, Ings, Guilherme
Booked: Paqueta, Soucek, Soler
Sent Off: Kudus
Manager: Julen Lopetegui
West Ham’s Struggles
For Maddison, the rise of Sarr’s energy and selflessness could signal a need for adjustment, especially if Kulusevski continues to shine creatively.
However, the main headaches of the day belonged to West Ham’s manager, Julen Lopetegui.
After a morale-boosting win against Ipswich, this match brought them crashing back to reality.
The Hammers faltered, with big-money defender Jean-Clair Todibo struggling at the back and Mohammed Kudus receiving a red card for violent conduct.
Kudus was sent off in the 86th minute following a VAR review for pushing Micky van de Ven in the face.
Unfortunately for West Ham, he might face more than just the automatic three-match ban due to additional infractions captured on video.
Lopetegui attributed Kudus’s actions to frustration but assured he would have a talk with him later.
“We’re going to discuss it,” he stated. “Not today, though. It’s not the time for that, but he knows he can improve in these situations because it’s not good for him or the team.”
Early Promise for West Ham
Up until that moment, Kudus had been West Ham’s standout player, scoring the opening goal in the 18th minute.
He found space at the back post and converted a low cross from Jarrod Bowen, who had done well against Destiny Udogie, much to Postecoglou’s dismay.
Early on, the visitors looked dangerous, with Bowen and Kudus causing headaches for Spurs’ defense, reminiscent of Brighton’s comeback against Tottenham earlier in the season.
However, Spurs responded strongly. Brennan Johnson, who had been on a scoring streak, came close to netting but was thwarted by Alphonse Areola before Kulusevski equalized with a stunning shot that curled off the post and into the net.
Looking Ahead
“We can be unstoppable when we play well,” Kulusevski said after the match.
“But we really need to tighten up our defense. Our balance needs improvement before the next game. When everything clicks, we can definitely score four goals.”
As the second half progressed, Spurs regained the balanced midfield configuration that had worked well for them last season.
With Bissouma providing solid groundwork, Spurs began to pull ahead, with Bissouma himself scoring the second goal from a smart cut-back by Udogie.
Lopetegui expressed frustration with the defensive lapses. “The second goal was avoidable,” he lamented.
“We should’ve been able to defend that. The worst part was losing our focus; we had plenty of time left if we had just stayed concentrated.”
The third goal for Spurs came with a stroke of luck.
Son initiated a fluid attack, played a one-two with Kulusevski, and although Areola made a valiant attempt to block Son’s shot, it deflected off Todibo and into the net.
Son capped the scoring on a breakaway, easily evading Todibo and finding the back of the net at Areola’s near post.
With West Ham in disarray, Lopetegui made three substitutions, but his team was nearly caught out again when Son struck the post.
From that point on, Spurs cruised to victory, although Kudus, who had been impressive up until his dismissal, had his personal performance marred by the red card.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
As the teams look ahead, questions remain for both managers.
For Postecoglou, maintaining this momentum will be crucial, while Lopetegui will need to address the defensive lapses and discipline issues that emerged during this match.
The road ahead is filled with challenges, and both sides will be eager to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
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