Brazilian team FURIA made a solid start to their IEM Cologne Play-in with a hard fought 2-1 victory over their compatriots from Imperial. This match was a real test for FURIA, as after losing on the first map they had to gather their will and get back into the game.

The series win not only brought important points but also boosted the morale of the team, who are looking to overcome their "Cologne curse" - FURIA have never yet managed to get out of the group stage at tournaments in Germany. "This win gave us confidence and showed our resilience," said team captain Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo in an interview with HLTV.

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Back on the winning trail

This tournament was the second of the season for FURIA after their performance at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, where the team managed to reach the quarterfinals. However, despite recent successes, historically tournaments in Cologne have been a challenge for the team. "We try to take care of the team spirit, our mental game, so that we don't lose a match before it even starts," shared FalleN. The captain believes that this time they will be able to end the disappointing series and achieve a meaningful result.

From defeat to triumph

The match against Imperial started badly for FURIA. On the first map, Dust2, they suffered a major defeat with a score of 13:3. "I think we didn't play very well in Dust2, while they played very well," admitted FalleN, adding that he was a bit surprised by his opponent's strategy. However, despite the difficulties, FURIA was able to pull itself together and show character on the next two maps. In a tense battle on Nuke, where the outcome of the game was decided in every round, they managed to emerge victorious. "It was a very strange game. We didn't finalize some things, but it happens," the captain noted. On the third map, Inferno, the team completely dominated and ended the match with a solid 13-0 victory.

Mental stability and preparation

After winning the opening stage, FalleN emphasized the importance of the team's mental toughness, especially after a tough loss on the first map. "Sometimes it can happen. I've been in teams where the mental factor at certain moments prevented the team from developing. In this team, we try to be careful with that," he said in an interview.

According to him, the team focuses on mental preparation to remain focused and confident in all situations. Between tournaments, FURIA has been practicing hard, especially after the EWC playoffs where some weaknesses were exposed. "We focused on new things and tried to correct some mistakes. We had two full weeks of training and it paid off," FalleN added.

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A new era of FURIA?

Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo expressed confidence that FURIA can surprise their opponents in this tournament despite their outsider status in the eyes of many analysts. "I believe that if a team doesn't take us seriously, they will be in trouble. We are playing good CS, we have ideas on what to do," he told HLTV.

With new players and a changed style of play, FURIA could be a surprise contender for the top spot. In today's competitive CS scene, it's important not to overlook any team, and FURIA is ready to prove it can compete for the title. "We'll just show up, do our best and try to improve every day," summarized the captain.

Source: HLTV