Dallas Fuel Beats Boston Uprising in Stark Turn-Around for Both Teams
Robert Paul for Blizzard EntertainmentThe Dallas Fuel picked up their second win of Stage 4 with a victory over Boston Uprising.
In a surprising turn of form from both teams, the 10-placed Dallas Fuel in the overall standings pulled off the upset over second-placed Boston Uprising.
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The Dallas Fuel has been in disarray for almost the entirety of the league so far, suffering numerous setbacks and controversies which compounded the floundering performance of the team, culminating in just one match win in Stage 3.
In Stage 4, however, Dallas has finally begun to show hints of the potential that their players should have. Against Boston, Timo ‘Taimou’ Kettunen was in better form than perhaps since before the league began, while Dylan ‘aKm’ Bignet looked more comfortable and Brandon ‘Seagull’ Larned impressed in both a flex tank and DPS capacity.
It was arguably Pongphop ‘Mickie’ Rattanasangchod, however, who stole the show once again as Brigitte. His command of the new hero has been impeccable so far, with many claiming that he is the first player to distinguish himself as the best in the league with her.
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For the Fuel, the victory marks the first time they have beaten a team other than the winless Shanghai Dragons since February 24, when they beat the LA Gladiators in the first week of Stage 2.
The result also comes as a significant contrast to the previous performance of Boston Uprising, however. In Stage 3, they became the first team to go undefeated in the regular season matches, and reached the finals of the playoffs before falling to New York Excelsior.
Their fourteen-match regular-season win streak was ended in their first match of Stage 4, falling to Philadelphia Fusion, before a loss to Houston Outlaws the following day. This result leaves them winless, and they’re set to face the so-far undefeated LA Valiant in their second match of the week.
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From an end-of-season playoff perspective, both the Boston Uprising and the Dallas Fuel likely already know their place. Dallas is mathematically eliminated already, and while Boston isn’t totally safe in a playoff spot only a very limited set of circumstances could knock them from second to seventh.
At the end of Stage 3, the Dallas Fuel defeating Boston Uprising would have been almost unthinkable. While both teams’ playoff fates might already be decided, this result does suggest that the balance of power could be shifting as the inaugural season approaches its end.
