MOUZ have taken another step toward the IEM Cologne 2025 trophy after defeating FURIA in a tense three-map series. Everything came down to Inferno, where the team managed to come back from a 7-11 deficit. Dorian “xertioN” Berman became the hero of the deciding map – his aggressive pushes on Banana turned the tide of the game and paved the way to victory.
It was a really tough game. They put up an incredible fight,” Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás said after the match. “xertioN had a huge impact on the second half of Inferno. He got the flashes he needed, and Brollan and I supported him with utility, while he punished YEKINDAR every chance he got.
Tactical changes and xertioN’s role
As torzsi admitted, MOUZ changed their approach mid-match. At first, the team avoided playing through Banana, but the coaching staff and leaders decided to “unleash” xertioN:
We gave him more freedom – and he did an amazing job. Coming back from 7-11 on Inferno isn’t easy, but he pulled it off, and we managed to regain control.
Mirage – a moment of lost focus
The second map of the series became a serious challenge for the “mice.” On Mirage, MOUZ looked relaxed and lost momentum.
We got a little lazy, there wasn’t enough communication, and I personally played poorly,” torzsi admitted. “I thought we had already won the match, and that was a mistake. On Mirage we paid for that overconfidence, but we made up for it on Inferno.
Kind words for molodoy
After the match, the Hungarian AWPer had special praise for 19-year-old Danil “molodoy” Golubenko, FURIA’s sniper:
He reminds me of myself when I was playing in tier-two or tier-three. He has his own style, his own ideas, and he’s very sharp. I think he has a bright future. It was a pleasure to play against him – we had a real AWP duel.
The battle between torzsi and molodoy was one of the highlights of the match – both AWPers not only won crucial duels but also created moments that changed the course of rounds. Fans witnessed one of the most exciting sniper clashes of the entire tournament, one that will be remembered for a long time.
Ahead – the Vitality challenge
Now MOUZ face the semifinal against Vitality – a team that has repeatedly been an insurmountable wall for the “mice.”
To win against Vitality tomorrow, we have to show 100%,” torzsi said. “They punish every little mistake, and we can’t afford to repeat the chaos we had on Train.
The French powerhouse led by Dan “apEX” Madesclaire has won most of the big trophies in recent years, and MOUZ will now have to give everything they have to break their losing streak.
The significance of the match for both sides
For MOUZ, this victory is not just a step toward the final but also a signal of the squad’s growing strength and confidence. For molodoy, the loss could mark the beginning of a great journey – the young AWPer has already earned praise from players like torzsi.
Next match: MOUZ vs Vitality – IEM Cologne 2025 semifinal. Will the “mice” finally break their losing streak against the champions, or will Vitality once again prove why they’re the best?
