RESULTS: Florida Mayhem Continue To Improve, Taking Down the Los Angeles Valiant

The Florida Mayhem are starting to look like a team ready to compete in the Overwatch League, taking down the Los Angeles Valiant in an exciting 3-1 match. Here’s a brief breakdown of the match.

The first map, Hanamura, started out excellently for the Florida Mayhem, as they quickly pressed the attack onto what seemed like an unsuspecting Los Angeles Valiant. After managing to push through LAV’s defences, Florida was able to secure both checkpoints with time to spare, setting up a potential overtime if the Valiant equalled their score. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, they were unable to match the strength of Florida on defence, as though they secured the first checkpoint, they found themselves unable to gain any ground on the second, and were forced to concede defeat as the clock ran out, giving Florida a 1 map lead.

The second map, Nepal, started out very competitive, with both teams managing to rack up considerable time on the point. Ultimately, Florida proved the stronger of the two, pushing LA away long enough for the point and round to be secured. The second round may have seemed as ferocious, but Florida definitely had the upper hand, holding the Valiant to just over 50% capture rating before retaking the point and holding it for the victory, giving Florida a 2 map lead.

The third map, Hollywood, was as exciting as it was tightly contested. Florida had first crack at attacking the point, and quickly found themselves stuck against an almost impenetrable Valiant defence. Though Florida would find themselves on the point, they were unable to even land the killing blow, and as the clock ran out, Los Angeles had held them to just short of 90% capture. With the Valiant now on the attack, they rapidly positioned themselves to secure key sightlines, and when the attack began in earnest, Florida simply fell away, leaving the point wide open and allowing Los Angeles to capture the required amount with plenty of time to spare. Florida was back to a 1 map lead, with 1 map to go.

The final map, Route 66, proved to be an extremely close competition between these two teams. Florida attacked first, and though they fought hard and secured the first two checkpoints, found themselves unable to progress any further. The Valiant managed to hold on long enough to let the clock run out, and now had a distance they knew they could reach. With Los Angeles now on attack, they were also able to secure the first two checkpoints, but found themselves grinding against an increasingly desperate Florida defence. With so little time to go, and so little distance remaining to travel, Los Angeles threw everything they had against Florida, but the Mayhem proved too strong in the end, stopping the Valiant in their tracks and ending the game with a 3-1 victory.

Florida are showing major improvement, and the Valiant need to come back with a better strategy. For more Overwatch League action, check out the New York Excelsior extending their dominance over the Shanghai Dragons, and for more information on when these teams are playing again, check out the Official Schedule page, here.