Niklas ‘NRaseck’ Raseck has triumphed with Guild Esports in the second FGS Masters Cup. However, the semi-final against NEO was far more thrilling than the final.
The first winner of an FGS Masters Cup, Excel Esports, was crowned on 7 March. The tournament series, which is held every Monday during the current month, showcases EA’s team elite. In the second week after that, all eyes from a German perspective rested on the semi-final between Guild Esports and Nomen Est Omen (NEO).
On the side of the Beckham organisation, the German Niklas ‘NRaseck’ Raseck competed together with the Argentine Nicolas ‘nicolas99fc’ Villalba, for NEO the two eNational players Dylan ‘DullenMIKE’ Neuhausen and Kai ‘Hensoo’ Hense started. Three of the best German FIFA professionals in one match.
Guild without first-leg win despite dominance
Guild dominated the semi-final first leg for long stretches and took the lead in their second attempt as early as the 12th minute. NEO had massive problems in the first half, ‘NRaseck’ and ‘nicolas99fc’ could have gone up several times – ‘DullenMIKE’ and ‘Hensoo’ only got their first opportunity just before the break.
Guild also came out of the virtual dressing room superior, but the balance of power shifted in the course of the second half. A few minutes before the final phase, NEO struck a somewhat fortunate blow through the middle (73rd) and equalised, and shortly before the final whistle the Guild keeper even had to save the draw (83rd).
NEO strongly improved in the second match
In the return match, Neuhausen and Hense were in the game from the start, and after a first missed chance (15th), a dream pass led to the 1:0 (21st). Guild was not particularly impressed by this and answered quickly: A questionable penalty gave Raseck and Villalba the equaliser (32nd).
However, the score did not go into the break at 1-1, and in the injury time of the first half NEO had their say again and went in front again (45.+2). The second half was characterised by attacks worth seeing in both directions: NEO (54./79.) as well as Guild (71.) came very close to another goal.
4:3 drama after 210 in-game minutes
The lucky punch came for the Beckham team, in the 83rd minute a cross from the right side found the head of a teammate and he in turn found the net of the NEO goal – 2:2 after regulation time. In extra time, Guild was again in the driving seat, but could not convert two great opportunities (93./102.).
The decision was made in the penalty shoot-out, in which ‘NRaseck’ and ‘nicolas99fc’ went straight behind with their first attempt. NEO, on the other hand, converted three penalties in a row, but then showed nerves of steel: Guild equalised with the fourth penalty, but the missed shot for the fifth sealed NEO’s exit.
Late 1:0 is enough for Guild against Team Gullit
Thus, Guild advanced to the final against Team Gullit with Olle ‘Ollelito’ Arbin and Levi ‘Levi’ de Weerd, who had previously eliminated Ajax Amsterdam (2-0 and 3-2), after the extremely tight semi-final decider. The final had far less excitement to offer, although the outcome was similarly close.
A last-minute goal in the first leg was enough for ‘NRaseck’ and ‘nicolas99fc’ to snatch the FGS Masters crown by 1-0 – and win US$15,000 in prize money. The coming Monday will have to do without German participation: DUX Gaming and Team Heretics as well as Mkers and Team Falcons meet each other.
