Counter-Logic Gaming Europe had a just came off of a rough game against Najin Sword before they faced an up and coming true underdog in Saigon Jokers. This match was a must win for CLG to ensure they didn’t fall into the danger zone, where they would have to hope for some sort of three-way tie like their North American counterparts did in Group A.
As for Saigon Jokers, it’s hard to say they had anything to lose. Coming off of an incredible and shocking win over Team Dignitas, SAJ was riding high and on momentum. Although they had to know they were going to face a team that is held in much higher regard than Team Dignitas in CLG EU.
SAJ Bans: Anivia Diana Alistar
CLG Bans: Skarner Evelynn Ezreal
Picks in Order:
SAJ: Jayce (QTV)
CLG: Irelia (Wickd), Sona (Krepo)
SAJ: Shen (Violet), Morgana (Nixwater)
CLG: Maokai (Snoopeh), Kog’Maw (YellowPete)
SAJ: Caitlyn (Archie), Nunu (Junie)
CLG: Karthus (Froggen)
Targeted bans were the name of the game. SAJ were savvy enough to know Anivia and Diana in Froggen’s hands could spell disaster, and CLG knew that Violet’s Skarner and Archie’s Ezreal should not to be underestimated. SAJ’s team comp was basically a tanky poke brigade that would rely on keeping Archie’s Caitlyn farmed and safe in the backline. This couldn’t have been more perfect for CLG, as they opted for a comp that was made to break through to the back line with champs like Irelia and Maokai. This is not to mention that CLG’s entire team was comprised of champions that the players were extremely comfortable and confident with.
Both teams played extremely defensive in the early game, no level 1 funny business. CLG gave Froggen the first blue, which allowed him to begin farming like the madman he is. First blood came in the form of a level 2 red buff gank from Maokai onto QTV’s Jayce, which would mark the beginning of top lanes problems. Irelia came back after the gank with a Ninja Tabi, this made trading with her impossible for Jayce. As a result, Irelia began to open up a CS lead, prompting Violet’s Shen to try and help repair the damage. Shen and Maokai both arrived in the top lane undetected, when the engage came about the burst from Jayce and Shen together was too much for Wickd to handle because he was already semi-low on health, resulting in a kill. Regardless, the balance was still very far from Jayce’s reach as he was losing the CS game 28-45 at the 8-minute mark.
The score was 1-1 at the 1-minute mark, and SAJ was letting CLG play their farm game, which is usually never a smart plan. Karthus was up 20+ CS on Morgana, who’s supposed to be a farming machine, and Irelia opened up a 30+ CS lead on Jayce, who kept missing his Q & E combinations to harass. CLG easily got an uncontested dragon at the 11:30 mark. Meanwhile, Wickd showed off some fancy flash skills dodging a Shen taunt right in his towers range and stunning him there right after. Wickd called for the Karthus ult as he unleashed his ult as well on both Shen and Jayce and then rushed onto Jayce to get the kill. Jayce could not catch a break in the top lane, with failed gank after reverse ganks piling on, it was only a matter of time before the top tier one tower collapsed for SAJ.
At 18 minutes, the score was 1-3 in favor of CLG and according to Jatt, Froggen was on his way to breaking a record set by Scarra of 300+ CS before the 24-minute mark. Froggen presses “R” and gets a global ult kill on Jayce after he extends too far against Wickd, and minutes after he breaks the 300+ CS mark before 23 minutes.
As for the rest of the map, the bottom lane was pretty much even between the duos, but it didn’t match much because once the laning phase was over an overpowered Karthus and Irelia spelled doom for SAJ. Violet’s jungle Shen became useless in team fights so he tried to split push while his team pushed mid. Meanwhile, CLG takes baron and the key team fight began when they decided they could catch SAJ running back. Wickd catches up with Junie and picks him off leading to a 4-1 trade, resulting in CLG taking SAJ’s mid inhibitor at the 27-minute mark.
CLG takes a second Baron minutes later and siege mid again. The MVP of the match Wickd dived hard into the enemy lines to get Caitlyn and dies, but his sacrifice leads to a 3-1 trade and the win for CLG. The MVP had to go to Wickd for his impressive play to shut Jayce down, but the 396 CS score in 29 minutes from Froggen was a beauty to watch.
Source : ign[dot]com
No comments:
Post a Comment