SAW eliminate FaZe Clan from IEM Cologne in a nail-biting thriller

SAW have done the unthinkable and overcame FaZe Clan to secure a spot in the semifinals of IEM Cologne 2024.

After FaZe’s historic comeback against Team Liquid, it would’ve seemed as if it was a sealed deal, yet, the Portuguese squad with a strong showing defied all odds by reaching top four finish as the event’s dark horse.

Perhaps Janko "YNk" Paunović put it into words when he said that regardless of their group stage run, no one will pick SAW to advance against a resilient FaZe Clan.

“For me it’s the greatest achievement I’ve done in Counter-Strike, it’s way better than being in a Major, this is another level and I’m just happy… This for sure is our best achievement because it’s in the arena and everyone expects us to lose, but I feel like we can do better “

– Ricardo 'roman' Oliveira in the post match interview. 

A hot start for SAW on Inferno

The action-packed series began on Inferno, FaZe’s map pick, and despite the 62% win rate on the map, they played like ghosts on the field, often haunted by their own mistakes.

A pistol round and the conversion was all FaZe could collect, before SAW tightened their defenses on the gun rounds. Although Finn "karrigan" Andersen’s squad fought back, their entry deaths cost them later in the rounds as SAW’s efficient trade kill was enough for them to have the upper hand throughout the first half at 8-4.

The same scenario played out in the second half with a total dominance from the Portuguese team. Michel “ewjerkz” Pinto was the standout player with a sharp shooting and made sure his team cruised over the finish line in a one sided affair.

While SAW hit the ground running, the same thing cannot be said about FaZe, especially Helvijs "broky" Saukants, posting a single kill in the first half, and David "⁠frozen⁠" Čerňanský who was quite literally frozen.

FaZe breaks even on Anubis

After a disastrous showing on Inferno, FaZe managed to save face by pulling the strings on their T side to find themselves at 4-1 before SAW clinched rounds of their own, tying the score at 4-4.

By then, the Portuguese most definitely felt the pressure as Robin "ropz" Kool’s impact and kills were round-defining to secure a 8-4 lead in the first half.

The hunger to reach the semifinals and make history gave SAW the needed push to turn the tables after being down 10-5.

With a collective effort, they managed to tie things at 11-11 before Robin put the last nail in the coffin, to seize their opponents map pick.

Map, series, and a semifinals ticket

It all came down to Nuke, a map favored by FaZe Clan, both teams appeared evenly matched initially. However, a series of bold plays propelled SAW to a match point lead.

Nevertheless, FaZe Clan rallied, led by their in-game leader “karrigan”, who delivered an exceptional performance. This resurgence allowed the teams to push the game into overtime.

From the get go, the map kept the fans on the edge of their seats, as SAW’s unorthodox tactics proved to work with fast plays that often caught FaZe off-guard.

Hadn’t there been missed shots and easy frags, the result might’ve been different, especially Broky's AWP miss in Control Room, where that single frag could’ve given FaZe the series point.

Nevertheless, there is no place for uncertainty—only definitive outcomes. Despite a determined comeback from FaZe, who rallied from a 12-8 deficit, they ultimately had little to show for their efforts in overtime. SAW expertly outmaneuvered them, securing the victory and ensuring their own narrative continues in Cologne.

Next up, SAW will lock horns with Team Vitality in a heated battle that is expected to deliver a feast for the eyes. So be sure to tune in and stay up-to-date with the latest updates from Cologne on Strafe.

Fun fact: FaZe Clan came 5th-6th in their last five tournaments.

Featured Image source: ESL

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