Charlotte FC enters its final Leagues Cup Phase One match with six points, five goals and two clean sheets.
Charlotte hosts CF Pachuca at 7:30 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium in its third and final Phase One match. The game will stream on Apple TV.
The tournament began with a 3-0 win over Pumas UNAM. Brandt Bronico scored in the 27th minute, Archie Goodwin in the 50th and Tyger Smalls from the penalty spot in the 78th. Tyler Miller kept the first clean sheet.
Three nights later, Charlotte beat Atlas FC 2-0 at the same stadium. That match stayed scoreless until the 78th minute, when Liel Abada scored from a Smalls assist. Smalls added the second in the fifth minute of stoppage time, assisted by Abada. Miller kept the second clean sheet.
The scorelines were different. The result was not.
Pumas conceded three times across 51 minutes. Atlas held Charlotte out until the final 12 minutes of regulation, then conceded twice. Charlotte has shown it can build a lead and that it can wait for one.
That distinction matters against Pachuca because Charlotte has tournament history it does not want to repeat. It made the Leagues Cup quarterfinals in 2023, then exited in the group stage in 2024 and 2025. This time it has taken every available point through two matches without conceding.
Charlotte's Monday advisory said the club was tied with Austin FC atop the MLS side of the tournament. The top four clubs from each league table advance to the knockout round. This is not a conventional four-team group in which one opponent's result settles another team's place. Charlotte has put itself in position. Tuesday is its final chance to improve it.
Four players have accounted for the five goals: Bronico, Goodwin, Smalls and Abada. Smalls has scored in both matches and assisted Abada against Atlas. Abada returned the favor before the final whistle. Charlotte did not need one player to carry the opening week.
Charlotte's MLS season remains level at seven wins, seven losses and four draws. Leagues Cup does not change that record. It has given Charlotte a separate measure of progress: two matches, every available point and no goals allowed.
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bank of America Stadium. Pachuca gets the last Phase One chance to score on Charlotte.