The Falcons secured a convincing victory over MOUZ in the semifinals of IEM Melbourne 2025, closing the series 2-0 and securing their spot in the tournament’s grand final.
Falcons Showcase Their Dominance
After suffering several defeats to MOUZ in previous encounters, Falcons managed to turn the tide thanks to a strengthened roster and a high level of individual performance.
The addition of Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov to the lineup proved to be a pivotal move, allowing Falcons to completely shift the dynamics of their matches against MOUZ.
Detailed Map Analysis
Dust2 (13:3)
Falcons chose Dust2 for good reason — it perfectly suited their style: aggressive pushes, deep mid control, and strong individual aim.
From the very first rounds, Falcons set the tempo by winning the pistol round and the following two rounds, which helped them stabilize their economy early.
They actively leveraged the star power of NiKo and m0NESY, constantly putting MOUZ under pressure and forcing mistakes.
One of the biggest advantages was Falcons’ control of mid: dynamic takes and crossfires allowed them to anticipate MOUZ’s rotations even before they fully developed their attacks.
Key highlights:
- TeSeS brilliantly held the B site, often anchoring and clutching in crucial moments.
- m0NESY dominated long duels with exceptional reaction speed.
- Falcons rarely gave MOUZ a chance to retake — out of six bomb plants, MOUZ managed to win only one retake.
In the second half, Falcons closed the game swiftly, not allowing MOUZ to mount any serious comeback.
Nuke (13:6)
On their own map pick, MOUZ once again faced a well-prepared and flexible Falcons side.
Nuke is often considered a map of coordination and utility usage — and here, Falcons outclassed their opponents in every department.
On the CT side, Falcons deployed a classic 2A–1Lobby–2Outside setup, emphasizing information gathering and mid-round aggression. kyxsan excelled in controlling the outside area, reading MOUZ’s movements early through smart use of smokes and flashbangs.
On T-side, Falcons played a slow, methodical game, stretching MOUZ’s defense and forcing them to make uncomfortable information plays.
Several times, m0NESY and Snappi executed perfect fake attacks on Ramp, opening up opportunities for the main force to hit A or lower bombsites.
Key moments on Nuke:
- kyxsan achieved the highest ADR in the match through smart outside aggression and early picks.
- m0NESY won a critical 1v2 clutch during MOUZ’s force-buy round, effectively breaking their economy.
- Falcons showed excellent discipline — they only attempted retakes when the odds were in their favor; otherwise, they saved their weapons smartly.
Their dominance across all phases — from pistols to late rounds — allowed Falcons to comfortably control the map.
Individual Performances
- m0NESY: Continues to impress with key frags and consistent presence across both maps.
- NiKo: The experienced team leader not only orchestrates the gameplay but also delivers high-impact shooting.
- TeSeS: His solid performance on Dust2 was one of the decisive factors behind Falcons’ win.
- kyxsan: Showcased a high level of play on Nuke, providing crucial support in key moments.
Strategic Aspects
Falcons meticulously prepared for the match, carefully analyzing MOUZ’s aggressive playstyle. They successfully neutralized their opponent’s early-round initiatives by utilizing structured setups and well-timed flash plays.
At the same time, MOUZ looked pale compared to the organized and disciplined Falcons: their attacks were predictable, and their clutch decisions were rushed and poorly coordinated.
Special mention should be given to torzsi — although he tried to rescue his team with several important picks on Dust2, overall, his impact was limited. Falcons systematically avoided his angles or immediately traded him out, stripping MOUZ of one of their main threats during crucial rounds. His final rating of just 0.43 was the lowest on the team, reflecting how little influence he ultimately had on the match.
This allowed Falcons to control the pace of the game and impose their own style, which became the key to victory.
The Falcons’ victory over MOUZ in the IEM Melbourne 2025 semifinals stands as a clear testament to their progress and rising strength on the global CS2 stage.
With a reinforced roster and a high level of team synergy, Falcons now confidently advance to the grand final, where they will face the winner of the Vitality vs The MongolZ match-up.
Another fierce battle lies ahead, but in their current form, Falcons look like true contenders for the championship title.
