RED Canids qualify for Americas Minor; Isurus to continue through lower bracket

RED Canids won a dominating two-map series against Isurus on Train and Overpass in the ESL One Rio 2020 Americas Minor South America Closed Qualifier to secure a spot at the LAN event in April, sending the Argentinean team to the lower bracket.

Two-time Major winner Lincoln "⁠fnx⁠" Lau will be back at a Minor in Rio de Janeiro for the first time since being knocked out of the FACEIT Major's Americas Minor in 5-6th place with Não Tem Como in 2018, as RED Canids won a two-map series against Isurus in the South America Closed Qualifier upper bracket final.

Isurus had the chance to make history by becoming the first Argentinean team to qualify for a Minor after winning their first two upper bracket matches in the South America Closed Qualifier, but they were unable to bring it home against RED Canids, who won every single map they played in the qualifier. The Argentinean team's dreams aren't over yet, however, as they will have one last shot at making it through to the event in Rio via the lower bracket.

RED Canids got off to a flying start on the CT side of Train, their map pick, taking the first five rounds. It looked like Isurus were going to win their first round of the half in a 2vs1, but Renato "⁠nak⁠" Nakano denied them with a clutch play by popdog where the bomb had been dropped. Nicolás "⁠Noktse⁠" Dávila was a big part in Isurus’ first win with three kills, but a triple by fnx the following round kept the Brazilians in complete control. The Argentineans were able to score two more before switching sides, leaving a monumental task for the CT side.

RED Canids overran the defense on the A site from main and ivy without suffering a loss in the second pistol round to make it 13-3. Isurus tried to forcebuy but were unable to make a dent and lost the map 3-16, putting all of their hopes on winning their map pick and sending the series to a decider map.

A chaotic round on the B site after a rush by Isurus ended in a 1vs1 between Roberto "⁠reversive⁠" Themtham and Bruno "⁠latto⁠" Rebelatto after back-and-forth trades, but it was the Brazilian player who came out on top to give his team the lead. Another B play provided a plant in the forcebuy, but Isurus weren’t able to hold the CTs back and gave in.

RED Canids won against the pistol buy, but were unable to win the second gun round as José "⁠L!nKz^⁠" Ortega and Marcos "⁠deco⁠" Amato secured a 2vs1 afterplant on A to make it 1-4. RED Canids played a clean B defense before Isurus scored a second, and after traded rounds Isurus were finally able to break the Brazilian side and bridge the gap to 5-7. Back on a full buy, RED Canids put the wall back up to win the half 9-6.

Isurus lost the fourth and final pistol round, giving RED Canids double digits and to more rounds, but were able to win the first gun round as Gabriel "⁠1962⁠" Sinopoli traded out a teammate in a 2vs1. Once again they were unable to build on it and gain momentum as RED Canids inched closer to match point, 14-7. Isurus made a final push to stay in the game, hitting 10 rounds in the half, but eventually caved to RED Canids, who secured their pass to the Americas Minor 16-10.