Vitality annihilate SAW to lock finals at IEM Cologne 2024

Yesterday, SAW achieved a remarkable victory over FaZe Clan, further enhancing their reputation. As they now face the formidable Vitality team, will their fairy-tale streak continue? However, considering Vitality’s T-side win rate of over 70%, it seems unlikely that SAW can maintain their momentum. Star player Dan “apEX” Madesclaire and his team are eager to claim their first trophy of the year. The playoff battle between Team Vitality and SAW at IEM Cologne commences.

Vitality’s dominant T-side record, SAW’s sheer tenacity

In a stunning display of dominance, Vitality’s Cologne campaign has been unbeatable. The powerhouse trio is entering the event with an astounding average rating of 1.27, but it’s the commanding presence of Dan “apEX” Madesclaire that truly stands out. Their attacking side has been relentless, and with Cologne’s excellent air quality, ZywOo is poised to guide Vitality against SAW.

In the meantime, SAW aims to prolong their fairy-tale journey following their victory over FaZe Clan. This triumph was underpinned by extraordinary, seemingly improbable plays from SAW, while FaZe’s firepower seemed to falter. Facing the high-speed Vitality team, SAW requires each member to perform at their best.

IEM Cologne Rosters – Vitality vs SAW

Map Veto and Match Recap – Vitality vs SAW at IEM Cologne 2024

Nuke – Vitality’s T-side take over – 13-6

Initially, SAW executed a swift B attack against Nuke, breezing past Vitality’s defenses effortlessly. Then came a triple kill from ewjerkz, providing an immediate advantage to their team. Mezii and flameZ initiated rotations on A, and the riflers showed exceptional form as Vitality swiftly matched the score. In round 7, SAW decided to focus on A and their strategy proved effective, catching the international side off balance.

In round 10, ewjerkz had a slim opportunity to give SAW a half-time advantage as he skillfully transformed a 1v2 situation when his health was low into a 1v1 against apEX. However, the French leader barely emerged victorious from this close encounter, and FlameZ seized round 12 dramatically, giving Vitality a 7-5 lead.

The EU combine’s T-side initiated with a victory from a yard crawl. Although ZywOo didn’t perform exceptionally well, this was the expected performance of Nuke for SAW against a top-tier team. Round after round, Vitality expanded their advantage, accumulating double digits without SAW challenging a single round.

In this intense game, SAW tried to save their economy but fell short against Red due to ZywOo’s precise AWP shots. This triple kill sealed the game for him, leaving no chance for SAW to recover. Facing match-point, SAW managed to gain a 5vs3 advantage thanks to a successful defensive hold. However, just as it seemed the Portuguese squad might find their CT round, apEX regained momentum. The skilled entry-fragger displayed some exceptional form reminiscent of 2014, breaching the defense and securing an ace to finish the map.

Dust2 – The ZywOo show is back in town! – 13-4

Initially, Dust2 commenced with another victory using a SAW pistol, but this time around, Vitality maintained their composure. ZywOo swiftly accumulated multiple kills to set the pace strongly. The French sniper’s accuracy was impeccable as every shot found its mark. In round 6, ZywOo first executed a blind AWP kill through the double doors, followed by swapping to an AK-47 to dominate a challenging 2v4 scenario.

In no way could SAW find a solution to withstand the attack they faced. Dust2 had long been a formidable fortress for the French team, and Vitality were solidifying this reputation. The French duo racked up an impressive 28 kills between them, giving Vitality a significant 10-2 lead by half-time.

In a temporary halt, SAW successfully controlled the bleeding due to their forceful victory in the buy round. However, apEX signaled the end of Portugal’s journey and secured matchpoint 12-5. Swiftly following, Vitality sealed their place in the finals at IEM Cologne against SAW.

Vitality: First Time Favorites at IEM Cologne?

apEX’s history with IEM Cologne hasn’t always been smooth sailing. In 2014, he managed to reach the playoffs and even posted a commendable rating of 1.38. However, his journey to the finals was halted by Virtus.Pro. He surpassed this achievement in 2019 when he made it to the finals alongside rookie ZywOo, only to be bested by Team Liquid, who took home the Grand Slam. This year, for the first time in his career, apEX will be leading the favorites of IEM Cologne, either MOUZ or NaVi, standing between him and the trophy he’s yet to claim. Will he finally secure the elusive win?