Last night turned out as a déjà vu for Aurora, the only Southeast Asian squad in DreamLeague Season 22, as the team battled it out with Team Secret during the third matchday of group stage B. This loss leaves Aurora’s path to the playoffs uncertain, setting the stage for an intriguing finale in group B tonight.
Despite managing to snatch some positive results against powerhouses like Team Liquid and Xtreme Gaming, Aurora couldn’t maintain its winning streak against Team Secret. Before the showdown, the Malaysian was seen as a top contender to secure a spot in the top two of group B. In contrast, Team Secret, has not clinched any big victories since matchday two.
In the opening game, Team Secret secured an early advantage with kills from captain Clement “Puppey” Ivanov and Teng “Kordan” Yao. However, Aurora swiftly adapted its tactics by the 15th minute, narrowing the gap in net worth.
As the mid game unfolded, both teams engaged in intense teamfights, each trying to outmaneuver the other. Team Secret faced staunch resistance from Nuengnara “23savage” Teeramahanon, countering the aggression of its star player, Remco “Crystallis” Arets. Team Secret eventually ran out of options as the late game approached, ultimately conceding to Aurora at the 33rd minute.
In the second game, Aurora was all about grabbing another win by keeping the heat on Secret right from the start. By the 36th minute, Aurora was ahead with 20 kills to Secret’s 10, with a big hand to 23’s Medusa. However, Team Secret’s duo, Korden and Miroslav “Boom” Bican, managed to repel Aurora’s advances.
As the game progressed to the 42nd minute, both teams traded attacks. Aurora faced a counterattack from Team Secret, resulting in a tense teamfight near their base. After successfully defending against the assault, Aurora attempted another push against Team Secret’s defense at the 49th minute.
Unfortunately, Aurora made a blunder that left Chan “Oli” Kien vulnerable to Crystallis’ Muerta. Team Secret seized the opportunity to push Aurora back, leaving them without crucial support. Despite holding a significant net worth lead of 25k, Aurora failed to match Secret’s power spike at the 52nd minute, succumbed against them with a final score of 27-22.
One last push
The loss hits hard for Aurora’s players, especially for 23, who experienced another dramatic defeat after leading the match. Last year, these former Talon players had a similar setback in the Riyadh Masters against Team Liquid’s sneaky tactics.
With this outcome, Aurora rises to the top of group B, while Team Secret remains in fifth place with 5 draws and 1 loss. However, Aurora’s playoff spot isn’t guaranteed just yet, as various scenarios could affect their chances.
The Aurora boys need either a win or a draw against Team Spirit to advance to the playoffs. However, if they lose and Team Secret triumphs against Liquid, they’ll be forced into a tie-breaker in Group B.
