Aurora Complete Historic 2–10 Comeback vs Astralis to Reach PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 Playoffs

Aurora produced one of the biggest comebacks of PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026, defeating Astralis 2-0 in the Swiss Stage Round 5 decider and securing a spot in the playoffs. The Turkish squad overturned a 2–10 deficit on Dust2 to complete an 11–1 closing run and eliminate Astralis from the event.

This victory sends Aurora to the arena stage, where they are set to face Vitality in the quarter-finals.

Aurora vs Astralis — Match recap

Final score: Aurora 2-0 Astralis
Overpass: 13–7
Dust2: 13–11

The series was a classic do-or-die clash for the final playoff spots. Aurora entered the match after beating B8 in the 2–2 pool, while Astralis arrived following a strong win over FaZe.

Overpass: woxic dominates Astralis’ map pick

Astralis selected Overpass, but Aurora immediately disrupted their game plan.
Star AWPer woxic repeatedly shut down Astralis’ executes and helped Aurora secure a confident 13–7 opening win.

The performance set the tone for the series and gave Aurora early momentum heading into Dust2.

Dust2 comeback: From 2–10 to playoffs

Dust2 became the defining moment of Aurora’s tournament run.

Astralis built a massive 10–2 lead, leaving Aurora on the brink of elimination. Instead of collapsing, Aurora delivered an incredible 11–1 comeback to close the map 13–11 and clinch the series.

After the match, Aurora rifler soulfly revealed the moment that sparked the comeback:

“CT side, I want to point my finger to woxic… I was kind of down, but he said if someone is going to do this comeback, it’s us.”

The statement perfectly captured the team’s mentality shift and confidence during the turnaround.

Player stats and MVP performance

woxic — Player of the Match (1.46 series rating)
soulfly — key impact rounds and late-game stability
Staehr — standout performer for Astralis despite defeat

Aurora’s defensive structure and late-round composure proved decisive in the final stretch.

Astralis eliminated after another close run

The loss continues a frustrating trend for Astralis, who once again fell short of the arena stage despite strong moments during the event.

In the post-match interview, HooXi admitted the team struggled mentally after losing control of Dust2:

“Tough day at the office… We wanted to take another step at this event and had the chances to do it.”
“We have to continue working on not losing to ourselves… There was a lot of frustration we could not reset from.”

Aurora’s path to the playoffs

Aurora’s qualification was built on momentum:

Eliminated B8 in the 2–2 pool to reach the decider
Defeated Astralis in Round 5
Qualified for the PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 playoffs

The team will now face Vitality in the quarter-finals at the BT Arena on February 20, 2026.

Why this comeback matters

The Dust2 turnaround instantly becomes one of the defining moments of the tournament.
From near elimination to playoff qualification, Aurora demonstrated resilience, leadership, and star power — all essential qualities for deep playoff runs.

For Astralis, the loss raises ongoing questions about closing high-pressure matches despite promising performances earlier in the event.

Final takeaway

Aurora’s win over Astralis is more than just a playoff qualification — it is one of the biggest comeback stories of PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 and a potential turning point in the team’s rise in the CS2 competitive scene.

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