Rogue’s winning streak came to a screeching halt last weekend as the formerly undefeated team started the second half of the season with two losses. Now, the rest of the LEC is ready to catch up - and Fnatic and G2 are looking hungrily at the top spot.
It might not look like spring outside, but the LEC 2022 Spring Season has passed its halfway mark already. Week 5 offered us several big fights and what looked to be some blowout matches - but it turns out we were in for some surprises.
Astralis Has Done It
The second half of the spring split threw some great upsets our way even from day one. After Team BDS made Misfits Gaming sweat until a big teamfight 27 minutes in when Jinx cleaned up, we did not expect any surprises when Astralis took on Rogue. Sure, Astralis had a good early game, but that has happened before and the gold was nearly even - when the underdogs scored a clutch win and took the Baron. Soon, they had a mountain soul to go with it - and while Rogue fought back valiantly, Astralis would not be denied their first win of the split.
Team Vitality looked to quickly nix any chances of such a surprise happening to them as they got two early kills on Matyáš "Carzzy" Orság’s Vayne, but Excel Esports rolled with the punches The UK team came out of a bloody mid-game at an advantage and eventually triumphed. Sadly, an upset was not in the cards for SK Gaming as they took on Fnatic, as the favorites were on point throughout the game. From a 3-0 and a 2K gold lead before the 5-minute mark to the Nexus falling twenty minutes later, it was all Fnatic, all the time.
The day ended with a clash between 2021 champions MAD Lions and G2 Esports. The Lions looked very strong in the early game, but a single teamfight gave G2’s scaling composition the Baron and a big lead. That was all they needed to bring the game home.
SAD Lions
BDS would open the second day as well, this time against Excel Esports. The two teams were neck and neck for most of the game, but with Patrik "Patrik" Jírů on Aphelios ramping up and the UK team taking the first three drakes, BDS were on a timer. It ran out after Excel took four kills and the infernal soul 33 minutes in, then ended shortly afterwards. MAD Lions, meanwhile, had a strong early game and were set off for a much-needed victory against SK Gaming. However, a series of mistakes gave SK the opportunity to get a Baron and several kills. They did not let it go to waste, either, winning what is only their third game of the season.
Sadly, Astralis’ winning streak was short-lived. The team was very aggressive against G2 Esports, but the canny favorites found ways to punish them and took off after sneaking a Baron. What looked like a catch on Marcin "Jankos" Jankowski 27 minutes on turned into a trap for Astralis and they were soon defeated. Afterwards, Rogue went against Misfits Gaming. The two teams traded kills early, but as the mid-game went on, Misfits’ carries became too much to handle. 34 Minutes in, Rogue tried to get the dragon after conceding the Baron only to get routed and lose their second game this week.
Saturday ended with the match of the week between Fnatic and Team Vitality. Elias "Upset" Lipp on Zeri took first blood and with him, Fnatic were looking good. Still Vitality kept it close until a big fight 17 minutes in where Iván "Razork" Martín Díaz’s Viego went on a rampage. After that, Fnatic was unstoppable,securing a key win to stay tied to G2 and within touching distance of Rogue.
Read More:
- TSM Have Worst LCS Start in Org History
- Top 3 Break Away from the Pack in LEC Friday Games
- Rogue Defeat Team Vitality in LEC Saturday Showdown
The LEC continues on Friday, February 18th as the dark horses Misfits Gaming take on a resurgent Excel Esports.