Tottenham turns the tide with dominant 2nd half performance

After a two weeks break the Premier League returned. The last match before the break was one where Tottenham Hotspur let a lead slip away in the second half against Brighton. The story took a different turn in their match against West Ham United. Spurs, guided by Ange Postecoglou, delivered a commanding performance, especially in the second half, to secure a 4-1 victory, displaying a newfound resilience that was missing in their previous outing.

A shaky start, but Spurs keep composure

The match began with Tottenham dominating possession at their home ground, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Yet, despite controlling the pace, Spurs found themselves trailing early on. In a rare attack from West Ham, Mohammed Kudus capitalized on a moment of chaos in Tottenham’s defense, slotting the ball past Guglielmo Vicario to give the visitors a 0-1 lead. The Hammers celebrated, while Spurs faced the challenge of overcoming an unexpected setback.

Unlike their previous game, where they struggled to maintain momentum, Tottenham responded with calmness and persistence. Wave after wave of attacks pushed West Ham back into their own half, with Heung-Min Son and Dejan Kulusevski leading the charge. Despite their efforts, the equalizer seemed elusive until just before halftime. Kulusevski unleashed a powerful shot from distance, finding the inside of the post to level the score at 1-1—a goal that shifted the atmosphere in the stadium and set the stage for a different second half.

A second-half surge

The second half showcased a Tottenham side transformed. Where Spurs faltered in the latter stages against Brighton, they thrived this time around. Only minutes into the second half, Heung-Min Son provided a moment of brilliance, sending a perfectly timed outside-of-the-foot pass into the path of Destiny Udogie. Udogie, who was a standout throughout the game, squared the ball to a surging Yves Bissouma, who calmly slotted it home to give Tottenham a 2-1 lead.

With the breakthrough, Tottenham’s confidence soared. They pressed on, and West Ham’s defense began to crumble under the pressure. Just eight minutes later, Tottenham doubled their advantage through a fortunate own goal from West Ham’s goalkeeper Alphonso Areola, who misjudged a cross under pressure from Kulusevski. Moments after, Son got his own name on the scoresheet, rounding off a smooth counterattack to make it 4-1 and all but secure the three points for Spurs.

Closing out with control

In the final minutes, Tottenham continued to push forward, eager to add more to their tally, but West Ham’s defense held firm. The game’s end took a sour turn for West Ham, as Kudus, who had earlier given them hope, received a red card after a VAR review caught him striking out at multiple Spurs players in frustration. The dismissal left the Hammers further deflated, and Tottenham calmly saw out the remaining minutes.

A positive turn for Spurs

This victory marks a crucial shift for Tottenham. Where they had shown vulnerability against Brighton, allowing a lead to slip away, this time they maintained their composure and displayed a ruthless edge in the second half. Postecoglou’s side now sits on 13 points, climbing steadily up the Premier League table, while West Ham remains on 8 points.

For Spurs fans, this match offered a glimpse of a team capable of learning from its mistakes. With solid contributions from the likes of Son, Kulusevski, and Bissouma, and the continued rise of Udogie, Tottenham showed that they can not only dominate games but finish them strongly. As they head into the next phase of the season, Spurs will hope to carry this momentum forward and continue building on their second-half success.