“Crazy moments, Not looking good for the boss and his star player”- Mohammed Kudus and Julen Lopetegui in telling moment after crazy West Ham red card
Ange Postecoglou rarely lets his emotions show on the sidelines, often maintaining a composed demeanor. However, during this particular match, he couldn’t help but express his joy as he punched the air in celebration. For much of the first hour, the Tottenham manager had stood as still as a statue on the touchline, resembling a wax figure from Madame Tussauds. But when his returning captain, Heung-min Son, sealed the game with a decisive goal at the 60-minute mark, Postecoglou couldn’t contain his excitement as West Ham’s misery deepened.
The reality of the match was that West Ham’s most spirited moment came late in the game when Mohammed Kudus was controversially sent off. This incident highlighted the lack of fight in a Hammers side that seemed to be losing its way, leading many to question how long the club’s hierarchy would tolerate the decline. Whether or not you appreciate David Moyes’ footballing philosophy, there’s no denying that West Ham’s form has taken a significant nosedive. It’s a sharp contrast to last Christmas, when Moyes’ resilient team came to Tottenham and snatched all three points after being behind at halftime. The palpable tension between Kudus and manager Julen Lopetegui—lingering from a prior disagreement during a match against Brentford—became apparent as Kudus trudged off the pitch. There seems to be no love lost between the two, hinting at deeper problems within the squad.
West Ham, who had looked reinvigorated after their commanding 4-1 victory over Ipswich just two weeks prior, appeared determined to make the first move in this clash, hoping to regain some momentum. Kudus, eager to make amends after Ghana’s unexpected 2-0 loss to Sudan earlier in the week, forced Tottenham’s goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario into a remarkable save within the opening ten minutes.
However, Spurs came close shortly after, with Son curling a strike just wide, only for West Ham to capitalize on a break. Kudus launched a sweeping pass to Jarrod Bowen, who initially fumbled his control. Yet Bowen recovered, passing the ball back to Kudus, who finished coolly to give West Ham the lead. The goal came as a blow to Tottenham, but Postecoglou’s men quickly regrouped and began to pile pressure on West Ham’s defense.
Alphonse Areola, West Ham’s goalkeeper, had his hands full as he managed to block a swerving shot from Pedro Porro, but it wasn’t long before Spurs equalized. Dejan Kulusevski, who was in exceptional form, drove forward and fired a left-footed shot that ricocheted off both posts before finding the back of the net. His determination to bring his team level was evident, and it paid off as Spurs continued to attack.
After an evenly matched first half, Tottenham took control in the second. Yves Bissouma scored a powerful goal to put them ahead, slamming home Destiny Udogie’s cutback. Just two minutes later, it was 3-1 after a clever back-heel from Kulusevski set up Son, whose shot was saved by Areola but trickled into the net after deflecting off Jean-Clair Todibo for an own goal. Areola, credited with the own goal, endured a torrid afternoon, and things only got worse for him as Son danced past him to score Tottenham’s fourth, leaving West Ham’s traveling supporters heading for the exits.
The frustration for West Ham culminated in Kudus’ dismissal after a VAR review showed him shoving both Micky van de Ven and Pape Matar Sarr in the face. His actions not only earned him a red card but also a suspension that will see him miss crucial upcoming matches against Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, and Everton. There’s even speculation that the severity of his offense could lead to a longer ban, potentially sidelining him for more than three games.
For Postecoglou and Tottenham, this match marked another strong performance in their Premier League campaign. But for Moyes and West Ham, the road ahead looks increasingly uncertain, with their early-season promise beginning to fade into frustration and disappointment.