Riding the energy of a rambunctious crowd, the Dallas Fuel took a 3-1 victory over the Houston Outlaws in the first ever true home game for the team.
The match started with a strong effort from Dallas on Lijiang Tower that ended in a 2-0 map win for the Fuel. The Outlaws struck back before the halftime break with a 2-1 win off the back of a strong point B defense on Temple of Anubis, tying the match score up at 1-1.
The rest of the maps were close, but Dallas ultimately took home the 3-1 victory after a 3-2 victory on King’s Row and an overtime 4-3 victory on Watchpoint: Gibraltar.
After the match, Dallas main tank Son “OGE” Min-Seok was moved to tears by the 4,500 strong that showed up at the Allen Event Center to cheer on their favorite teams. Fuel flex support Benjamin “uNKOE” Chevasson was awarded Player of the Match.
Fuel DPS player Zach “ZachaREEE” Lombardo commented on the energy of the Dallas home crowd.
“I felt like we kinda won in the fan game, maybe just a little bit,” Lombardo said. “Nah, not really a little bit, we like super won in the fan game.”
When asked about the most exciting moment in the series, Dylan “aKm” Bignet cited the final fight of Watchpoint: Gibraltar and said that the team was “all screaming,” with ZachaREEE perhaps destroying what remained of his voice.
The Houston players relished the opportunity to play the villain to the sea of blue.
“I’m like sadistic. It motivates me. I heard the booing,” flex support Shane “Rawkus” Flaherty said. “If anything it’s going to motivate me.”
The Dallas Fuel now move to 8-5 in Season 2, and 4-2 during Stage 2. The Outlaws drop to a winless 0-5 mark for Stage 2.
Despite the loss and the Season 2 struggles, the Outlaws remain positive and spoke to the burgeoning rivalry with their Fuel opposition.
“Dallas Fuel has finally become our rival now that they’ve managed to take a match off of us,” Outlaws DPS player Jacob “JAKE” Lyon said. “We didn’t want to let that happen, but unfortunately, it did.”
The all-time record between Houston and Dallas does sit at 3-1 in favor of Houston, meaning the Fuel have some catching up to do.
Next up for Houston will be the Guangzhou Charge on May 2. The Fuel will take on the Florida Mayhem the same day.
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