SAW continue dream debut by claiming FPG playoff berth over FURIA

SAW's return to an all-Portuguese roster has paid dividends in their first tournament.

SAW have bagged a surprise playoff berth at FISSURE Playground 1 thanks to a 2-1 victory over FURIA, the Portuguese squad earning wins on Ancient (22-19) and Inferno (13-10) either side of a loss on Train (8-13).

FURIA have been sent home as a result of this loss, whilst SAW progress to the quarter-finals, where Complexity await.

The series between SAW and FURIA got a facewash after the two teams clashed in the Fissure Playground 1 Group A opening series, as Anubis and Dust2 went by the wayside and Ancient and Train took their place. Inferno, which was not needed the first time around after the Portuguese team swept 2-0, was the only repeat in the veto.

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SAW debut new roster with shock win over FURIA

It appeared as if banning Anubis was going to be a home run for the Brazilian squad, who got off to an ample 7-2 lead with Gabriel "⁠FalleN⁠" Toledo leading the way before SAW got their footing and won the last three rounds on the T half to keep it close at the half.

FURIA got off to a hot start on their offensive effort to put themselves on the brink of winning the map, but a series of blunders allowed SAW to get a foothold and fend off five map points to run the map to OT.

The Portuguese side continued to show fortitude, hanging on while up against two more map points before claiming the third overtime to take their pick 22-19. João "⁠story⁠" Vieira and Adones "⁠krazy⁠" Nobre led the way with 34 and 32 kills each.

Train was the Kaike "⁠KSCERATO⁠" Cerato show, the star rifler producing some of his best work on his way to a 2.11 rating, leading FURIA to a relatively comfortable victory.

FURIA's star man guided his team to a 5-1 lead on their T side, only for SAW to reign them in by the half-way point. KSCERATO then firmly took the game by the scruff of the neck on defense, a couple of clutches putting his team in control of the map before a tidy trigger discipline play helped close things out to send the series to Inferno.

Inferno began with FURIA suffering a disastrous start to their CT side, losing the pistol, falling further behind to some slick executes, before giving up back-to-back 5v3 advantages as the half spiralled out of control. The Brazilians managed to stop the rot, but still went into the second period 4-8 down.

SAW put themselves further in the driver's seat with a pistol win and conversion, before a desperate half-buy victory followed by 3v4 turnaround gave FURIA a foothold in the map. It proved to be cosmetic, however, as some disjointed T side play and a round lost to time granted SAW series point, before another FURIA fumble against a half-buy closed the series.

SAW prove to be FURIA's bogey team

SAW twice defeated FURIA at this tournament, the Portuguese side seeming to have every answer against their Brazilian counterparts.

FURIA will be immensely disappointed to begin the season in this fashion, considering the promise their new roster showed towards the end of the last season.

"They were hitting their strategies and their executions were very nice on every site they hit," FalleN said of Inferno in a post-game interview with Anastasija "⁠Heccu⁠" Tolmačeva, giving SAW credit for their efforts.

"I think we could have done more, it's not like we got stomped and had no chance, it's more about we throw the win away. We've got to give it to SAW as well, they beat us three times in a row now and they kind of have our number at the moment."

SAW meanwhile will be thrilled with their efforts, their debut tournament resulting in a playoff appearance amongst a solid field. With Complexity awaiting them in the playoffs, the Portuguese team have every chance of going at least one step further.

More highlights:

• KSCERATO sprays down to to get map point on Ancient

• story denies yuurih 1vs2

• SAW get on the board on Train with forcebuy

• KSCERATO trigger discipline play

• FURIA half-buy win in Inferno