MAD Lions dispatch FPX to reach Flashpoint upper semi-final

MAD Lions recovered from a map one scare to secure a 2-0 victory over FunPlus Phoenix (Nuke 16-14, Dust2 16-2) and reach the Flashpoint 1 upper bracket semi-finals.

The Danish team had already bested FunPlus Phoenix in convincing fashion at Flashpoint 1, taking them down in the final match of Phase 2 to lock down the top seed heading into the playoffs (edging out MIBR to the top spot through a higher map win percentage), while FunPlus Phoenix had narrowly scraped by with the bottom seed.

This time around, MAD Lions were pushed to their limits by FunPlus Phoenix, who unpredictably claimed an extensive 14-5 advantage on Nuke. With their backs against the wall, the Danes found their footing to complete the seemingly impossible comeback. The dominant MAD Lions who had been present in the group stage finally awoke on the second map (Dust2) to secure the win and lock down their place in the upper bracket semi-finals to face the winner of the Americas clash between Cloud9 and Gen.G.

The heavy favorites looked to stamp their authority on the game on their map pick of Nuke, with a Rasmus "⁠sjuush⁠" Beck 1v1 clutch on the T side pistol kicking off an early 3-0 start. Michael "⁠dapr⁠" Gulino responded with a triple kill to get FunPlus Phoenix on the board, but two additional rounds went quickly in favour of the Danes.

With MAD Lions looking as if they would run away with the half, a switch flipped in the North American’s heads. Nine straight rounds went overwhelmingly in favour of FunPlus Phoenix, with all of dapr's 16 first-half kills coming during that streak.

FunPlus Phoenix refused to slow down as they swapped to the offensive side, adding four rounds to their score to extend their commanding lead to 14-5. Staring down the barrel of defeat, MAD Lions finally recomposed to end the North American’s 13-round streak and get a foothold in the match.

Now with guns in hand, the Danes ran riot on the defence, shutting down FunPlus Phoenix across the map. Peter "⁠ptr⁠" Gurney’s men deflated moving forward as MAD Lions rapidly approached a level scoreline, with two phenomenal rounds from sjuush and Frederik "⁠acoR⁠" Gyldstrand completing the comeback.

A rejuvenated MAD Lions came flying out the gates on Dust2 to storm to a 9-1 lead on the T side, spearheaded by an on-point Lucas "⁠Bubzkji⁠" Andersen. A fantastic round from Austin "⁠crashies⁠" Roberts and dapr doubled FunPlus Phoenix’s score, but their recent success could not be built upon as MAD Lions closed out the half emphatically, 13-2.

The second half reached its conclusion swiftly after a flawless pistol round as MAD Lions dispatched FunPlus Phoenix to secure their semi-final advancement, sending the Bad News Bears roster to the lower bracket.