Thriller in the Champions League Final
The Champions League final turned into a nerve-racking showdown. On the digital pitch, the two Russian teams, ReFraction and Darkside eSports, faced off. In a gripping back-and-forth battle, it was not until the third match that the decision was made in favor of ReFraction. After the first and second legs ended with a combined score of 3–3, a decisive game was required.
The Road to the Final
ReFraction dominated Group C in the group stage and confidently secured first place. Their only draw came in the second leg against Shelter FC from Turkey. Led by top scorer IBegottenI, they boasted one of the strongest offenses of the group stage, leaving Shelter FC, DH Predators, and VfB Oldenburg behind. In the round of 16, a single goal was enough to see the team past SG Nahe. The next round proved just as close: ReFraction managed a 1–1 draw and a narrow 1–0 victory against Echelon FC to advance to the semifinals. There, they continued their tight match trend, defeating Sunrise FC with a 3–2 win and a goalless draw to reach the final.
Darkside eSports also looked back on a successful group stage. As group winners in Group A, they clearly outperformed their pursuers SG Nahe, NoFear, and Glarung FC. Their only defeat came at the hands of Glarung FC, while all other matches were victories for the team led by top scorer Igormstr and his equally dangerous offensive partner Butyash. In the round of 16, they confidently progressed against Shelter FC, followed by two more wins in the quarterfinals against The Bulls Team from Poland. In the semifinals, Darkside eSports eliminated LFC Braunschweig. A memorable 5–3 victory ensured their place in the final, even though they had lost the first leg 0–1.
The Final Over the Full Distance
In the first leg, Darkside eSports took an early lead. After a well-orchestrated attack down the left wing, goalkeeper ZeToxxy could only deflect a low shot toward the far post, where Butyash was unmarked and tapped the ball in. Until halftime, the match continued without major highlights. It was not until the 84th minute that ReFraction managed the long-awaited equalizer. After a corner from xSw1Tx, center-back LackySniper headed the ball into the net from about ten meters out to make it 1–1. No further goals followed.
The second leg then delivered maximum excitement—despite technical difficulties. Due to the halftime bug, the match had to be played in two first halves. Both teams found their rhythm quickly once again. As early as the 7th minute, ReFraction capitalized on a defensive error, allowing IBegottenI to score from close range to make it 1–0. But Darkside responded immediately. A long ball right after kickoff ended up, after a few deflections, in the six-yard box, where Igormstr slotted it in. With the score tied, the sides switched. Just before the end, ReFraction advanced down the right flank. IBegottenI’s cross found the head of xSw1Tx, who passed it to niko_isnt_neko. With a spectacular scissor kick, he smashed the ball into the net. However, Darkside eSports repeated the same tactic after conceding. Once more, a long ball was headed into the penalty area, perfectly reaching Butyash in stride. The striker kept his composure and finished at the near post. The match ended 2–2, necessitating a decisive third game.
There, the trend of early goals did not continue. Nevertheless, the importance of rehearsed set pieces was once again evident. Just as in the first match, a corner gave ReFraction the lead. In the 38th minute, xSw1Tx once more found center-back LackySniper, who headed in to make it 1–0. The teams went into the break with that scoreline. In the second half, Darkside eSports gave everything in search of an equalizer. However, in the final third, an opposing defender always managed to intervene—the ball would not find the net. Thus, ReFraction secured the Champions League title with a 1–0 victory in the deciding match. Congratulations!