Falcons have outlasted The MongolZ in PGL Bucharest 2025 to reach the playoffs. In what was a three-match thriller, the Falcons managed to brush aside their questionable performance leading up to the match to beat the Asian side.
VETO
- The MongolZ removed Train
- Falcons removed Anubis
- The MongolZ picked Mirage
- Falcons picked Dust2
- Falcons removed Inferno
- The MongolZ removed Nuke
- Ancient was left over
Map 1: Mirage; Pick: Mongolz; Winner: Mongolz
The Falcons dropped the ball after losing the pistol round, enabling MongolZ to run all over them. NiKo’s off-game took a lot of firepower out of the Falcons, and despite Degster‘s best efforts, the Falcons only managed four rounds in the first half. Both teams were well matched in the second half of Mirage, but given the lead Mongolz managed in the first half, Falcons failed to mount a comeback, leaving MongolZ to take home their pick with relative ease.
Map 2: Dust2; Pick: Falcons; Winner: Falcons
Starting on the defense, the Falcons brushed off the bashing they got on Mirage. While they did manage to win 9 rounds, a distinct difference in form powered by Degstar and NiKo became too much for MongolZ to handle. MongolZ did cut it close on several occasions, but the Falcons were too dynamic to let anything hurt their defense. MongolZ started their defense with a pistol round win, but the lead was too much to start mounting any comeback, as Falcons wanted no time to close out the game before it went out of hand. Winning the map 13-6, the Falcons took us to the final map of the day.
Map 3: Ancient ; Pick: Decider; Winner: Mongolz
Trading rounds for the entirety of the first half, both teams moved into the second half with a levelled scoreline. While MongolZ threatened to take it all away, they found themselves on the back foot and had to win the final round just to push the game to overtime. MongolZ lost complete control in overtime, allowing the Falcons to edge past by the skin of their teeth.
While they did manage to qualify after losing the opening two matches, the Falcons haven’t been performing at the level they should. Unless all the players bring their A game in terms of teamwork, the next match could be their last, as the playoffs will not give them second chances like the group stage.