Charlotte FC Beats Atlas 2-0, Pachuca Up Next in Leagues Cup

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte FC made it two straight wins in Leagues Cup play Friday night, defeating Atlas FC 2-0 at Bank of America Stadium.

The match remained scoreless deep into the second half before Liel Abada broke through in the 78th minute. Tyger Smalls helped create the opener, then added an insurance goal himself in stoppage time to finish the victory.

Goalkeeper Tyler Miller also played a key role, making a one-handed save late in first-half stoppage time to keep Atlas off the board. Charlotte’s win extended the club’s home unbeaten streak to five matches.

The result follows Charlotte FC’s 3-0 win over Pumas UNAM in its Leagues Cup opener, giving The Crown back-to-back victories against Liga MX opponents.

Charlotte closes Phase One on Tuesday, August 11, when CF Pachuca visits Bank of America Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. It will be the first meeting between Charlotte FC and Pachuca.

Pachuca is one of Mexico’s most accomplished clubs, with seven Liga MX championships and six Concacaf Champions Cup or Champions League titles, most recently in 2024.

The 2026 Leagues Cup features 18 MLS clubs and all 18 Liga MX teams. After Phase One, the top four clubs from each league table advance to the quarterfinals.

Sources: Charlotte FC; Leagues Cup.