FaZe hand new Team Liquid their first loss at IEM Cologne

FaZe Clan dealt Team Liquid their inaugural defeat of the season under the guidance of Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken during the initial matches of IEM Cologne’s group stage. Robin “ropz” Kool exhibited a striking resemblance to his formidable CS2 days, while Team Liquid narrowly missed victory in consecutive maps. This exhilarating match set an impressive tone for the event.

Team Liquid & FaZe Clan – IEM Cologne Rosters

Match Recap & Map Veto – Team Liquid vs FaZe Clan at IEM Cologne

In this match-up between Liquid and FaZe Clan at IEM Cologne, the North American team chose Mirage, whereas the combined European team opted for Nuke as their respective map picks.

Mirage – Liquid comeback fails at final hurdle – 13-11

In the initial matches at IEM Cologne’s Group Stage, Team Liquid chose Mirage as their map, but FaZe Clan quickly took control. Karrigan’s team seized five rounds consecutively from the pistol round. It wasn’t until the sixth and seventh rounds that Team Liquid managed to breach FaZe’s defense. This was made possible by strategic mid-position positioning that allowed them to isolate the sites. With a score of 7-5 at half-time, Team Liquid had the advantage, and their CT pistol round further strengthened this lead.

In their game against FaZe, Twistzz and his teammates led 9-8, having secured strong defensive positions against FaZe’s weaker attacks. jks’ struggles on the A site seemed like a bright “OPEN” sign to karrigan, the experienced in-game leader for FaZe. Karrigan then called for a traditional A setup, which led to an overwhelming response from FaZe, resulting in a 4-round winning streak and setting them up for match point. Despite being pushed to the brink, FaZe managed to win the match 13-11, even though ultimate was the standout player throughout the game.

Nuke

In the beginning, FaZe’s pistol round victories left them trailing 0-2, but as soon as firearms were involved, Ultimate once more took center stage. The Polish player swiftly earned consecutive multi-kill rounds to even out the scoreline instantly. Round 6 presented an opportunity for rain to secure the opening frag against YEKINDAR, which enabled FaZe to advance into the B site. Despite Ultimate scoring two more frags, it wasn’t sufficient to reverse the momentum of that round.

In the eighth round, chaos ensued. YEKINDAR discovered rain in the lobby, and NAF-jks’ MP9s struck the B defense, but unfortunately, it wasn’t sufficient as broky’s AWP was strategically positioned, enabling him to eliminate two opponents and damage the defuser when his AWP malfunctioned. This incident significantly boosted Liquid’s funds and pushed them into an economy-focused strategy.

In the match, FaZe Clan executed a flawless attack strategy, but Team Liquid’s Twistzz stepped up to win crucial duels and thwart their efforts. This advantage moved the financial balance towards Team Liquid, but FaZe managed to hold onto some weapons for a fightback in the last round of the first half. The score was tied 6-6 at the break, with Twistzz scoring 10 frags and another player from his team getting 14.

“The killer instinct is back for FaZe Clan” – Geordie “Mac” McAleer

Pistol round saw TL take a ramp rush, but it left ultimate and jks in the 2v2. Luckily, jks found the path to the A site in a clutch against karrigan to take the pistol win. The two teams exchanged a couple of rounds, but FaZe now looked in control. Twistzz’s molotov quickly cut short the round, burning down his Canadian teammate, just as Liquid nearly had round 18 in their hands and NAF found himself in a 1v1. That was the final nail in the coffin as FaZe turned the heat up to lock in 11 rounds.

In a 3 vs 4 situation caused by rain, Team L (TL) members found themselves at a disadvantage which rapidly became a 1 vs 3 for jks. The Australian player scored four kills, but fell just short of an ACE, allowing FaZe to secure the series point. Despite Liquid reaching the B site and almost losing the round, they managed to win it in the nick of time. Unfortunately, the North American (NA) side suffered another defeat, with FaZe clinching victory, 13-10.

Liquid drop to lower bracket in IEM Cologne

In the upcoming match, Team Liquid will go up against the losing team from the Vitality versus Furia competition. This situation could lead to another clash between teams from the Americas region, and Team Liquid will be aiming to replicate their previous triumphs. On a different note, FaZe Clan is off to a more promising start than their recent performances and are eager to begin a winning streak as they strive for another opportunity at claiming the championship title.

Featured Image via Helena Kristiansson and ESL