Charlotte FC's perfect run through this year's Leagues Cup came apart in the cruellest way on Tuesday night at Bank of America Stadium, where Alan Bautista struck in the first minute of stoppage time to give Pachuca a 1-0 win over a home side that had started two Israeli internationals, Liel Abada and Idan Toklomati.
Abada, the winger Charlotte signed from Celtic as a young designated player in 2024, and Toklomati, who arrived from Maccabi Petah Tikva, both took the field from kickoff as Charlotte chased a third straight Phase One win that would have all but sealed a quarterfinal berth.
Neither Israeli found the net. Toklomati was the first off, withdrawn in the 57th minute for Archie Goodwin, while Abada played on until the 72nd minute, when he was replaced by new signing Allan Saint-Maximin.
Charlotte still had the game in their hands late on. In the 81st minute, Pachuca's Sergio Rodriguez fouled Saint-Maximin inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Goodwin stepped up, but his penalty was saved by the Pachuca goalkeeper, according to Mexican outlets covering the match.
Pachuca made Charlotte pay almost immediately. Bautista found space inside the area in the second minute of stoppage time and finished coolly with his left foot to snatch all three points, sending the small pocket of travelling fans into celebration and silencing the home crowd.
The defeat was Charlotte's first of this year's Leagues Cup campaign, after the club had opened Phase One with two consecutive wins. ONE reported that the loss ended what had been an unbeaten run for the MLS side heading into the group's final round of fixtures.
For Abada and Toklomati, the result was a rare setback in what has otherwise been a season of growing prominence for Israeli players in MLS. Alongside teammates such as fellow Israeli forward Baribo and New England Revolution's Ilay Feingold, the pair are part of a small but expanding contingent of Israeli internationals now plying their trade in the American league.
Attention for Charlotte now turns to whether Tuesday's loss affects their position in the Leagues Cup standings, with the club having entered the match needing a positive result to guarantee their place in the knockout rounds.
