Tottenham mounted a comeback of their very own after three targets in eight second-half minutes impressed a 4-1 victory over 10-player West Ham on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Spurs had been left to dwell on their collapse at Brighton through the worldwide break and after a vibrant begin, they may have been left fearing the worst as Mohammed Kudus gave the Hammers the lead (18). The hosts had been warned moments earlier as Guglielmo Vicario needed to pull of a surprising save to disclaim the Ghana worldwide, however the Spurs goalkeeper may do nothing to maintain out his second effort after latching onto Jarrod Bowen’s cross.
You may sense the frustration throughout the bottom after Spurs wasted one other vibrant begin and alternatives continued to come back and go. The returning Heung-min Son’s curled effort flew inches broad, whereas the in-form Brennan Johnson missed with a header from six yards because the ball hit his shoulder and bounced broad.
However Spurs ultimately discovered the breakthrough as Dejan Kulusevski’s shot beat Alphonse Areola earlier than hitting each posts and creeping over the road, a lot to the aid of the house followers.
From that second, Spurs, who changed James Maddison with Pape Sarr on the break, by no means appeared again amidst a speedy capitulation from West Ham.
Yves Bissouma began the scoring rush within the 52nd minute earlier than an personal aim from Areola after Jean-Clair Todibo had additionally deflected Son’s shot (55) and was described as “comical” by Sky Sports activities‘ Micahel Dawson on Soccer Saturday, three minutes later noticed Spurs open up a two-goal benefit.
Son (60) capped the scoring spree with Spurs third in eight minutes, slamming residence on the far submit to see his facet bounce again from their Brighton nightmare in very good model.
West Ham’s dramatic second-half collapse was full when Kudus lastly obtained a pink card after a prolonged VAR examine. In a fracas in the direction of the top of the match after a coming along with Micky van de Ven, Kudus raised his arms to each the Dutchman and Sarr. He was initially proven a yellow card however after being despatched to the VAR display, referee Andrew Madley brandished a pink card to cap a day to overlook for Julen Lopetegui and his facet.
Kudus’ second of insanity…
As if West Ham’s afternoon wasn’t unhealthy sufficient already, Kudus was then despatched off within the 86th minute following a VAR overview.
It was a prolonged VAR overview too, nevertheless it did not should be. The one actual shock was when the referee initially brandished a yellow card.
Mohammed Kudus clashes with Micky van de Ven
It began when Kudus appeared to kick out at Van de Ven, who was on the ground after a coming collectively. He then pushed Van de Ven within the face as tempers boiled over earlier than an unintended conflict of heads with Richarlison.
It did not finish there because the Ghana worldwide, who was one in every of his facet’s higher performers, pushed Sarr within the face earlier than a pink card compounded a troublesome afternoon for the Hammers.
It does not get any simpler for Lopetegui who must try to revive West Ham’s fortunes with out Kudus, who faces the prospect of three video games on the sidelines, probably much more.
Sarr ‘modified the sport’ for Spurs
After the sport, Spurs boss Postecoglou revealed the introduction of Sarr rather than Maddison was tactical, and it was a substitution that “changed the game”, in response to participant of the match Kulusevski.
He stated: “It’s hard to do both things [attack and defend] all the time and it was good to get Pape in, he changed the game for us.”
Postecoglou felt Sarr’s working energy and power had been wanted up in opposition to a bodily West Ham midfield.
He stated in his post-match press convention: “I just felt we West Ham ask you certain questions in midfield areas and I just felt Pape’s running power would help us in the second half. They obviously worked hard in the first half and I thought he could give us some real energy.
“I believed he did rather well and he gave us a platform to actually threatening each time we wish ahead and medical in our soccer.”
On replacing Maddison, he added: “Sure it was tactical, I simply felt we wanted a bit extra working energy in that midfield space.
“Pape provides us some good power there and I believed that actually helped us within the second half.
