RESULTS: CLG Takes Down Cloud9 in a Stunning Display of Team Fighting Skill
By Zac Cameron ·
While Cloud9 may have considered themselves safe in second place, CLG showcased exactly what can happen when you focus your efforts on team fighting.
Heading into this match, Cloud9 must have felt quite safe in second place, while CLG languished at the bottom of the ladder. But as demonstrated, sometimes standings don’t matter quite as much as team cohesion.
A quiet start as both teams made good positioning choices to avoid being caught out, first blood would come when a stand-off over the red buff would see multiple members of both teams collapse into a messy team fight, with Cloud9 managing to take down CLG’s support and escape with their lives. A second minor skirmish in the bot lane allowed Cloud9 to take down CLG’s AD Carry to extend their lead in the lane.
A bigger skirmish that broke out in the bot lane seemed to fizzle, when Cloud9 was able to suddenly turn the fight around and claim another kill, while also taking down the first turret of the game. Another skirmish in the md lane allowed Cloud9 to take down the mid laner for CLG, while their bot lane duo rotated to the top to take another turret, before moving down to the mid to secure the turret there and open up the map.
A failed gank in the mid lane saw CLG jungler Kim “Reignover” Yeu-jin fall prey to Cloud9, before the fight was turned around as CLG rallied and killed Cloud9’s jungler in turn. Cloud9 attempted to push CLG away from the Dragon pit, but clever positioning allowed CLG to take down the bot lane duo of Cloud9 and secure it for themselves. After catching Reignover out of position in the jungle, Cloud9 moved to secure the Baron, and as CLG attempted to contest they were quickly cut down, losing two more members.
Now empowered by the Baron, Cloud9 looked to push into the mid lane, using the Banner of Command to empower a minion in an attempt to secure more turrets. As CLG dove in to stop them, Cloud9 was able to hold the line, trading their support for the jungler and top laner of CLG, pushing forward and securing the first inhibitor of the match.
While attempting to push in the bot lane, CLG’s mid laner Choi “Huhi” Jae-hyun was able to cut off half of Cloud9 with his ultimate, and the rest of CLG capitalized on the opportunity, taking down two members of Cloud9 and forcing them away from the turret. Recovering from this setback, Cloud9 proceeded back to the Baron pit to secure more pushing power before attacking the top half of the map, though CLG was able to stop them from achieving too much. A classic death brush ambush by CLG caught Cloud9 jungler Dennis “Svenskeren” Johnsen off guard, preventing the rest of the team from advancing down the bot lane. With this pick, CLG was able to move forward and secure their second Dragon of the game.
After a skirmish in the jungle saw the top laner for Cloud9 fall, CLG was able to rush down the Baron and secure more pushing power. Taking this new found power into the mid lane, CLG were able to secure two quick kills as well as destroying an inhibitor, opening up the base. A messy team fight saw several members from both teams fall, before CLG pulled back and secured the Elder Dragon. With this additional power, CLG was able to shove in the bot lane and look to take down another inhibitor, and in a bloody team fight, CLG was able to take down all members of Cloud9 and end the game.
For more NA LCS action, check out how TSM extended their winning streak while taking down Flyquest, and for more information on when these teams will face off again, check out the Official Schedule Page, here.