Shelter FC wins the ProLeague Champions League

In a highly thrilling final, the Turkish team Shelter FC narrowly defeats the new German champion LFC Braunschweig and wins the ProLeague Champions League. The side overturned their 0–1 first-leg defeat and secured the European trophy with a 4–2 victory in the second leg. The man of the match was center-back KingMathieuu, who surprisingly celebrated the Pro Clubs night of his life with a hat-trick.

The road to the final

Shelter FC started the Champions League season perfectly and was the only team without dropping a single point in the group stage. In Group C with OM3N eSports, LT US Fasano Esports, and ReFraction, the team won all matches and did not concede a single goal. Shelter FC’s winning streak ended in the Round of 16 against Inter Berlin. After a 1–1 draw in the first leg, a 1–0 win in the second leg was enough to progress. The quarterfinal against Glarung FC followed the exact same pattern. Once again, a 1–0 win in the second leg was enough after the first leg had ended 1–1. All good things come in threes – in the semifinal against DIGITAL Sports, Shelter FC won the first leg 2–1, while this time the second leg ended in a 1–1 draw.

LFC Braunschweig finished Group D as group winner. Braunschweig won five of their six group matches and only lost once to Echelon FC in second place. Team JHZ and RA FC finished third and fourth behind Braunschweig and Echelon FC. In the Round of 16 against LT US Fasano Esports, LFC had no problems with two clear victories, and Braunschweig also won both matches convincingly against CHARISMA in the quarterfinals. In the German semifinal against the Red Devils, Braunschweig suffered their first defeat of the knockout stage, but they overturned the 0–1 deficit from the first leg with a 3–1 win in the return leg.

Opening win for Braunschweig

LFC started the match well and already had a huge chance after five minutes through bliq9, who hit the post from a promising position after a mistake in the back line. Both teams remained well organized afterward, so it took until the 33rd minute for Braunschweig to become dangerous again. After a nice transition move, the ball reached striker ACF x Kalle via two passes, but he was denied by goalkeeper Guii_1x. It remained 0–0, which was also the halftime score.

After the break, LFC made the perfect start to the second half. After a long ball from center-back Chica, Shelter FC failed to clear the ball. Eventually the virtual leather landed at the feet of Minty19x, who gave goalkeeper Guii_1x no chance from close range and smashed the ball under the crossbar to make it 1–0. After taking the lead, Shelter FC began to push more in attack and earned several corner situations, but none of them produced a goal. Neither team took full risks until the final whistle, allowing Braunschweig to win the first leg 1–0.

The goal-filled comeback

The situation was therefore clear: Shelter FC needed to win by at least one goal to force a deciding match. However, the start did not go as planned. After just three minutes, criatura set up bliq9, who forced goalkeeper Guii_1x into a brilliant save from about ten meters out. After 13 minutes, Shelter FC had their first chance. A chip from Festik found the running clowned, who tested LFC goalkeeper WerderSIMON.

Only moments later, LFC took the lead. Braunschweig benefited from a catastrophic mistake in the build-up play. bliq9 intercepted the ball, played a one-two with ACF x Kalle, and finally set up criatura, who struck from the edge of the penalty area and placed the ball into the far corner. Shelter FC’s response came quickly. A corner from FrancioLF landed right inside the six-yard box, where defender KingMathieuu rose highest and headed home the equalizer for 1–1. Before halftime, Shelter FC struck again. A cross from the half-space by clowned reached Aredian at the far post, who laid the ball across once more to KingMathieuu. The defender was there again with a header and scored his second goal within a few minutes to give Shelter FC a 2–1 halftime lead, leveling the deficit from the first leg.

Shelter FC remained extremely dangerous from set pieces after the break. In the 50th minute, goalkeeper WerderSIMON made a desperate save against Aredian’s attempt. However, the joy of the save did not last long. The following corner from the right again found Aredian, who laid the ball back from the far byline into the six-yard box. Belmo37 kept his composure, found KingMathieuu at the far post, and the defender only had to tap in to complete his hat-trick. But that was not the end of it – the cold shower for LFC became even colder. In the 56th minute, casuals1994 laid the ball off centrally at the edge of the box to Mirko7x, who curled a finesse shot past the defenders into the top corner to make it 4–1. Goalkeeper WerderSIMON stretched in vain.

LFC Braunschweig now needed two goals to force a deciding match. Braunschweig pushed forward with everything they had and tried their best to defend the increasingly frequent counterattacks. However, it took deep into the match before LFC managed to add another goal to the scoreboard. In the 83rd minute, bliq9 set up his strike partner ACF x Kalle, who beat goalkeeper Guii_1x with a low shot into the far corner. The ball clipped the post before bouncing into the net to make it 2–4 from Braunschweig’s perspective.

In the final minutes, LFC took every possible risk to somehow score the crucial equalizer, but Shelter FC defended every dangerous situation with the necessary bit of luck and repeatedly created short moments to breathe with long clearances. In the second minute of stoppage time, it was an attacking ball win by Festik that prevented one final long ball from Braunschweig into the opposing half and gave the referee the opportunity to blow the final whistle of the Champions League final’s second leg.

Congratulations to Shelter FC on a magnificent comeback and the Champions League title in Season 35 of the ProLeague!