MOUZ obliterate FURIA to advance in EPL playoffs

The Brazilians couldn't get ten rounds combined between Nuke and Mirage.

MOUZ are through to the second round of playoffs in ESL Pro League Season 18 after absolutely annihilating FURIA in a two-map series, making Gabriel "⁠FalleN⁠" Toledo and company look like fools for picking Nuke (16-5) before quickly bringing the match to an end on Mirage (16-4).

The European combine were in control of the series from start to finish, their dominance helped by strong form from all four of their riflers. Jimi "⁠Jimpphat⁠" Salo looked particularly excellent throughout his team's effort and seems to truly be coming into his own on MOUZ, something which Kamil "⁠siuhy⁠" Szkaradek touched upon in a post-game interview.

"The most important thing that you have to look out for in a player like that is that you have to let him develop himself," the MOUZ captain explained. "We cannot show him or teach him things that we learned already in a way, I think he needs to learn his own way into tier one, that's going to be the easiest for him.

"We can obviously guide him on how to do it, get comfortable with us, but the main part is that he himself needs to work on it and we're just helping in the background."

MOUZ have little time to celebrate their dominant victory as they need to prepare for their next playoff match against FaZe on Wednesday, which kicks off in less than 24 hours.

Date	Matches
ESL Pro League Season 18
27/09/2023	FaZe 19:00 MOUZ	Match

As for the series, FURIA simply couldn't get anything going on their T side on Nuke, capitulating in almost every mid-round situation and failing to create openings onto bombsites.

The Brazilian team only got the bomb down four times in the first 12 rounds and found themselves down 1-11 before adding two to their tally at the end of their attacking effort and another two when facing match point early in the second half, but those additional rounds only served to make the loss look like less of a blowout as MOUZ cruised to a 16-5 finish.

MOUZ's pick of Mirage went even worse for FURIA, who were treated to a masterclass in calling from siuhy and strong rifle work from Jimpphat and Dorian "⁠xertioN⁠" Berman. The pair led the server for their side in a half where MOUZ rolled over FURIA defenses round after round, simply outclassing the Brazilian team and adding insult to injury in some late-round situations to boot.

The European team didn't let off the gas in what ended up being a 12-3 lead at halftime once again, and made up for a fumble to a force-buy in round 17 by regaining control immediately in the next. That recovery sealed the win for siuhy's men, who ended FURIA's suffering, 16-4, to send them packing from Pro League.