MUTiRiS leads Portugal to the semifinals: FaZe vs SAW at IEM Cologne 2024

The Cathedral is alive once more as IEM Cologne 2024 moves into the playoffs stage with SAW taking on FaZe Clan. The Portuguese side is proudly carrying the flag, but FaZe has turned up the heat once again. The players are fired up as Finn "karrigan" Andersen's calling is perfectly lucid. Now SAW players face their toughest task: beat FaZe in their home territory and be crowned legends.

FaZe's story coming into Cologne was nearly a beat-for-beat repeat of 2022. — Katowice Finals, PGL Major Finals, 5-6th at Dallas, 5-6th at Spring Finals, and a growing concern over their performance in recent matches to the point where many wouldn't count them as one of the favorites for the event. Then, they come into Cologne and looked like a completely different team. The big difference, however, is that FaZe didn't win Katowice, or the Major, or EPL.

So now, much like in 2022, FaZe players must take on an Iberian team in the playoffs of IEM Cologne, and NaVi could be the Major rival they can face again in the finals. Is it going to be another run filled with "FaZe B***sh*t?"

SAW players certainly hope not. The team has been slowly building up for years at this point, picking up various talents in hopes of making the perfect Portuguese team. And this year, they've finally taken their country to the Major. Subsequent events like BLAST have shown us glimpses of their potential. G2 is the biggest scalp they've taken so far. Can FaZe be next?

Here are the rosters for FaZe Clan and SAW at IEM Cologne 2024:

FaZe Clan started the match with a pistol round wrap to the B site, with karrigan taking the 1v1 clutch win. But once the guns came out for both sides, SAW was in complete control. Ewjerkz's round 4 hero rifle hold was what kicked it off, and by half-time, everyone on the SAW side was doing their part. The only shining light for FaZe was their veteran entry fragger, rain, who kept them in the half with the occasional star round.

SAW started off just like FaZe on their T-side, picking up the pistol conversion. And FaZe took the gun round wins to get 6 on the board as SAW showed their first signs of weakness. But BERRY's crew still had buckets of firepower at their disposal and closed the map out 13-6.

Being the veteran side, karrigan and his teammates were able to reset going into the second map. IEM Cologne was still on the line, and FaZe were not about to quit easily. This time, it was broky and ropz leading the charge as FaZe's T-side started 4-1 up. SAW managed to fend off a couple of rounds in the middle of the half, but it was mostly one-way traffic for the European combine. With an 8-4 half, and a second pistol round converted, FaZe were up 10-4.

But that's when SAW fired up once more. MUTiRiS called a fantastic T-side as he led the way for his team individually, too. Round after round, the Portuguese side attacked Anubis and built themselves back into the game. Scoreline tied 11-11 and there was a 3v2 advantage for SAW, so it looked done for FaZe. But just like they had on Inferno, SAW showed their lack of experience — missing a key smoke and panicking in the clutch. Players karrigan and rain took advantage of it to snatch away map point. Frozen finished the job with a 1v2, just like he had started in round 1.

With ropz looking in form, and SAW taking a rough loss, it wouldn't be surprising for SAW to check out of the series mentally. But from the start on Nuke, they were not letting it go without a fight. The Portuguese side started off with a pistol conversion before the economic battle began. FaZe's T-side was well drilled, but SAW found success from the most unlikely defender.

As roman topped the CT charts, his team accelerated ahead, closing the half with an unlikely 7-5 lead. FaZe were the pistol victors this time, but just as they tied up the score, MUTiRiS stepped up with a massive 1v4. That clutch seemingly galvanized his team, as they just tore through the defense all the way to 11. Roman's quick vent drop was denied, but SAW kept their game plan in motion. A B plant and an incredible vent defense from arrozdoce shut down FaZe, and gave SAW the semifinals point.

Getting a little ahead of themselves, SAW was making the smallest mistakes and giving rounds over to the FaZe side. Karrigan's team took double digits and relegated their opponents to a single AK-47 in round 23, but four frags for frozen sent Nuke to the final round. Additionally, ropz made the final stand as he kept ramp off limits, sending the game to overtime.

Overtime should be FaZe's playground, but it was SAW in control again. Ewjerkz went huge in the first, and MUTiRiS repeated it in his A onslaught, giving SAW a lead. A CT round finally went the FaZe way, keeping the team just a round away. Now on the CT-side themselves, ewjerkz and story annihilated the B-attack to quickly lock in series point once again.

Story sniped ropz's smoke lurk, but broky found a key double to open up the A site. "FaZe will not make this easy!" and Harry Russell was absolutely right. MUTiRiS and arrozdoce both took double kills, leaving broky in a 1v3, and the Latvian lazer could no pull it off, as SAW took the series win! Portugal will be in the semifinals of IEM Cologne.

SAW will now face Vitality in the semifinals of IEM Cologne. While the team should still be considered underdogs, they've managed to make it all the way to the semis on merit. That means even with the Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut factor, SAW will be a massive threat for Vitality. How far can this Cinderella run go? We'll find out tomorrow as Vitality players take on SAW.

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