MLS returned to full swing on Wednesday night with three different Israelis leaving their mark across three different grounds — a rare cluster of good news for the country's growing contingent in American soccer, even if only one of the three walked away with all three points.
The headline act was Liel Abada. Charlotte FC's Israeli winger scored twice as his side raced into a 2-0 lead over Atlanta United, latching onto a Pep Biel pass to open the scoring before doubling it with a far-post header just before halftime — Charlotte's official channel labelled it simply a 'brace' for the 24-year-old, who has become one of the most reliable attacking outlets in MLS this season.
Atlanta, missing Emmanuel Latte Lath amid transfer talk and starting Fafa Picault in his place, would not go quietly. Elías Báez pulled one back in the 57th minute, and Miguel Almirón completed the comeback with a well-worked equalizer in the 76th, leaving Charlotte to settle for a 2-2 draw at home despite Abada's night.
Across the country, Tai Baribo produced the moment DC United needed at Houston Dynamo. With his side trailing in the club's first match since the FIFA World Cup break, the Israeli forward rose to flick in a header in the 78th minute, converting a centering ball from Nathan Ordaz to make it 1-1 — his ninth goal of the season and enough to salvage a point on the road.
Baribo has been in prolific form since his move from Philadelphia Union to DC United earlier this year, a switch that included scoring against his former club on his debut back in February. His late leveller against Houston kept United unbeaten in the reopening weekend after the international break, in a match that finished 1-1.
The best result of the night for an Israeli belonged to Or Blorian. Sporting Kansas City beat Minnesota United 2-1 at Sporting Park in the club's first home match since the World Cup hiatus, with Dejan Joveljić opening the scoring — his team-leading seventh goal of the campaign, set up by a Manu García interception — before García added a second himself. Devin Padelford's 75th-minute header for Minnesota proved only a consolation.
Blorian started the match at left-back, his second appearance for the club and first since a full debut in a 3-2 defeat at St. Louis City SC the previous week. It marked the Israeli's first taste of victory since arriving in Kansas City.
The 25-year-old central defender joined Sporting KC on a pre-contract in June, agreeing a three-year MLS deal through the 2028-29 season with club options extending to 2030-31. He arrives after spending his entire career in Israel, most recently with Hapoel Be'er Sheva, where he made 186 competitive appearances and contributed two goals and four assists last season.
Blorian, who holds both Israeli and Portuguese citizenship, has four caps for the Israel national team since making his debut in October 2025 and has featured in World Cup qualifying. His move to MLS adds a third Israeli face — alongside Abada and Baribo — to a league that has quietly become a notable landing spot for players from Israel's top flight and beyond.
