Philadelphia Fusion vs New York Excelsior

For our third match of the day we have a very exciting clash between the Philadelphia Fusion and the New York Excelsior. This is an incredibly important match as well as Philly and New York are neck and neck in the standings. (ranked and third respectively) With things being so close every single map counts so expect both teams to come out of the gates swinging.

The Philadelphia Fusion is entering with a fair share of momentum. Ever since they lost a close five map series to Boston in week one they stringed victories against the Florida Mayhem (3-1), Houston Outlaws (3-2) and the London Spitfire (3-2). With EQO back in the line-up they're back to their dominant old self and they're constantly forcing opponents to adapt as they're performing at an insanely high level. Carpe in particular has been having some sensational games as he's often the main reason why teams can't even put up a worthy offensive. Even their newest addition in Snillo has paid off in spades as he's proving to be quite a formidable Tracer player that's also fairly unique in the way he plays the game. Very sneaky and patient but also aggressive and willing to fight when push comes to shove.

New York on the other hand didn't look that hot last week. After they were upset by Boston in what is considered as one of the biggest upsets so far, they needed five maps to take down the Houston Outlaws. They looked mild and somewhat lost, without their "X factor" and tendency to clutch things out in the most important moments. That said they didn't look like they were giving it all they had, as illogical as it might seem. They're first in the overall standings for season one and they have an incredible lead when it comes to map differential (34 maps over the second placed London Spitfire) so there's really no need to either panic or tryhard. They won Stage 2 and came in second in Stage 1 meaning they're not really slacking off - ever. It takes an incredible amount of time and effort to be at the top of the game for so long and it's understandable if they're taking some time off.

Some analysts also questioned how hard they're preparing for individual teams given how they've been starting very formulaic, almost cliche team comps and strategies for certain times which could mean that they're keeping their cards very close to the chest, perhaps in anticipation for another tough playoff race.

Even though they lost to Boston last week and didn't look that good against Houston, they're still the heavy favorites overall. They're the most dominant and frightening team to take on in the entirety of the Overwatch League and a couple of shaky maps won't create a dent in their legacy. That said Philadelphia is a very frightening team in their own right. They're also not one to shy away from a challenge so this should by no means be an easy match. (especially if Carpe pops off) Expect some high octane Overwatch and a clash between some of the best DPS players in the entire League.