Tottenham blow away West Ham as Kudus sent off in dominant derby win

A dominant second-half performance saw Tottenham claim a commanding Premier League victory over local rivals West Ham in north London.

Hammers winger Mohammed Kudus opened the scoring in the 18th minute, converting a Jarrod Bowen cross after missing a similar opportunity earlier.

Spurs responded in the 36th minute with an equalizer from Dejan Kulusevski, whose shot hit both posts before finding the net.

Although Spurs were already in control during the first half, they raised their game after the break, following the substitution of James Maddison for Pape Matar Sarr. Just seven minutes into the second half, Yves Bissouma finished off Destiny Udogie’s cutback to give Spurs the lead.

Son Heung-min, instrumental in setting up the earlier goals, had a shot saved by Alphonse Areola, but the rebound deflected off Jean-Clair Todibo and into the net.

Five minutes later, Son capitalized on a loose ball to score Tottenham’s third, though he hit the post with a similar chance shortly after West Ham lost possession following the restart.

In a dramatic twist, Kudus was sent off after a VAR review showed him pushing both Pape Sarr and Micky van de Ven in the face.

This convincing win rewarded Spurs’ relentless attacking play, helping them recover from their disappointing 3-2 loss to Brighton before the international break—a defeat manager Ange Postecoglou had called his “worst” since taking charge last summer.

Sweden captain Dejan Kulusevski is elevating his performance this season, and after scoring at Old Trafford before the international break, the 24-year-old netted a vital first-half equalizer on Saturday.

His near-post strike calmed nerves at a crucial moment after his team fell behind early.

Physically, technically, and tactically, Kulusevski is thriving this season, now playing in his preferred attacking midfielder role. While he only has two goals and an assist so far, those closely following his progress can see his growing influence, making him one of the first names on the team sheet.

Interestingly, James Maddison was substituted for Sarr in a “tactical change,” with other attackers arguably in better form.

This squad, primarily assembled by former manager David Moyes, is having difficulty adjusting to the tactics of new manager Julen Lopetegui.

Once a counter-attacking team, the Hammers approached their match against Spurs with an emphasis on playing from the back, maintaining possession, and trying to break down their opponents.

However, they were outmatched, lacking cohesion in the attacking third and committing a number of costly errors defensively.

Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola’s goal-kicks created opportunities for Spurs, while several passes went out of play.

The midfield duo of Tomas Soucek and Guido Rodriguez was physically overpowered and exploited by Spurs’ pressing game, leaving the defense struggling to build play from the back.

On a positive note, West Ham appeared threatening whenever Jarrod Bowen or Kudus managed to take on the opposition wingers.

However, it is concerning that the 4-1 scoreline may have actually flattered a West Ham side that was thoroughly outplayed.

Ghana international Kudus appeared to kick Van de Ven as he fell following a 50-50 challenge, then pushed the Dutchman in the face, igniting a mass brawl. During the scuffle, he inadvertently clashed heads with substitute Richarlison before pushing Sarr in the face.

With two Spurs players on the ground, referee Andrew Madley initially issued a yellow card. However, after a review by VAR official Chris Kavanagh, the yellow card was rescinded, and a straight red card for violent conduct was issued in the 86th minute.

Despite a challenging afternoon for West Ham, Kudus stood out as their best player. Unfortunately, his actions have complicated Lopetegui’s recovery efforts, as he now faces a three-match ban that adds to the club’s difficulties.