In an ideal world, Matthew Real would have earned his MLS debut by rising up the Union depth chart, instead of being the next man up after a teammate’s injury.
But when Fabinho suffered a sprained MCL and torn meniscus against Columbus earlier this month, Real’s path to the field got accelerated.
It isn’t official yet, and won’t be until an hour before Saturday’s 9 p.m. kickoff, but the odds seem strong that the 18-year-old Drexel Hill native will make his first MLS start when the Union visit the Colorado Rapids.
Union manager Jim Curtin wouldn’t say it publicly before the team left for Denver on Wednesday, a few days earlier than usual to get acclimated to the high altitude.