i38: Recap infused.cryo Female vs oXmoze

After their loss to fnatic.MSI last night, the french team oXmoze were keen to get back into their stride and get on course for a second place finish in their group. Their opponents, Infused Female, came into the game knowing that they had to win to stand any chance of making it through to the next round. What followed was a fast and frantic game of MW:2, each team with strong motivation for the win.

Sarah "Vixxen" Aldridge Lauren "Pansy Scott Ruth "Roo" Lawson Harriet "Qu33ney" Brierley Joshua "twrs" Towers

Kevin "frenchy" Heraudet  Antoine "JooKzZi" Dumontet  Guillaume "risky" Plassier Yann "glory" coumes Leonard "rukkae" Alzeto

The game was played on Karachi, a map based on the city of the same name in Pakistan. Characterised by small alleys and claustrophobic buildings, there are also ways of getting onto the odd roof to open the map up a bit. The derelict city environment sets the scene for vicious fast=paced firefights through the streets, with areas of the map changing hands at lighting speed.

The game started with oXmoze playing as Opfor. They quikcly set the pace of the game, pushing Infused right back and penning them in to their base. The french side put their teamwork and experience to good use, with effective tactics fragmenting the Infused defence to allow them to score 3 times in the half. Infused struck back with a flag capture of their own, but it was by no means as dignified nor as easy as their opponents' captures.

Moving onto the second half the game changed in pace very dramtically. Infused realised they were giving away their flag too easily and set up a solid 2 man defence on the flag the whole time. While effective, it meant their attacks could not match the firepower of the french, who were perfectly happy to defend. Their 2 flag lead meant that all they had to do was prevent Infused from capturing a flag and they would win.

The slow play saw Infused making relatively half-hearted attempts to penetrate the oXmoze defence, but to no avail. Infused were not playing as a team, simply a group of individuals. Excellent play by Qu33ney saw her get within metres of the flag, taking down two oXmoze players in the process, but a lack of support forced her to wait, by which time it was too late and oXmoze had regrouped to shut her down. Infused displayed a lack of cohesion within the team, and it took a few sharp comments down the microphone to instill some sense of purpose into the team. They began to push forward as a unit, however once again teamwork let them down. oXmoze were content to let Infused come at them in ones and twos, giving them an easy ride to their next flag capture- they sent one man to sprint round behind the Infused attack and capture the flag whilst they were occupied.

It's 4-1 and there are 5 minutes to go. Finally, Infused seem to realise the peril they have put themselves in, and sort out a decisive attack. Roo remains to guard the flag, preventing another sneaky flag steal by the french. Vixxen held the middle ground and the other 3 pushed up as a unit. Covering each other and forcing oXmoze back, Pansy managed to grab the flag and all three rotated back, meeting Vixxen half way. The team moved back to their flag with haste, covering each other's backs and capturing the flag to make it 4-2.

However, this was all too little, too late. The new attitude from Infused could have seen a turn around if they had more time, but with only one minute left and 2 3 flags to capture for a win it was a lost cause. The final countdown ended, and Infused Female were out.

Final score: Team Infused Female 2 - 4 oXmoze

After the game I talked to Infused Female team captain, Sarah "Vixxen" Aldridge: "It's ridiculous, MPUK are [stupid]. Our group has three "top" teams in it, if you include us. The Infused boys have just got them and EMPATHY, it's so easy for them. MPUK have clearly not done their research. The game itself was ok, they were the better team in the first half and then all they had to do was just sit back and not lose their flag to beat us."

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