STEADY HAND
Room gives Crew needed stability in goal for playoff run
Caleb Porter knew when he took over as coach of the Crew in January 2019 that finding a goalkeeper to replace Zack Steffen, who had been bought by European giant Manchester City, would be arguably the most important roster move Porter had to make in his first season.
He found Eloy Room, who recently finished third for the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award in his first full season with the Crew.
While Darlington Nagbe and Lucas Zelarayan get a lot of the attention as key additions to the Crew’s improvement from a season ago, Room’s has proved to be a steady presence in goal that teams need to go on deep runs in the MLS Cup playoffs.
“Your big players have to be even bigger in the bigger moments,” Porter said. “Those are things I talk about all the time with my group.”
In the early games of the season, Room was hardly having to make many saves as the Crew defense rarely gave opposing teams good looks at goal. In his seven shutouts this season, Room had to make just 13 saves.
But in recent weeks — five starts since returning from injury — Room has performed brilliantly as one of the main reasons the Crew was able to finish the season with two wins in the final three games.
In a 2-1 win against Philadelphia Union — the No. 1 seed in the East — Room bailed out a poor defensive performance with eight saves, most of which were on shots from inside the penalty area. A few days later against Orlando City, Room made two saves in quick succession that included a nearmiraculous kick save that is nominated for save of the year in MLS.
The Crew has allowed 14 goals in the past 10 games that Room has started in goal, but on maybe only one or two could it be argued that Room should have saved. For a defense that didn't inspire a ton of confidence down the stretch, at least the Crew has a confident goalkeeper between the posts.
“I know in these moments and moments where I can help the team that I (will) be there,” Room said. “That's one of my qualities to help the team when they need me.”
Room is no stranger to top competition. Before he came to MLS, Room played in qualifiers for the Europa League — Europe's second-largest club competition — with Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem in 2015 and was on the bench for Champions League games with PSV Eindhoven in 2018-19.
That experience — as well as international competition with Curacao — and his proven ability to carry the Crew through games against top teams this season are two qualities that a championship team needs in a goalkeeper.
Steffen had two of the most memorable performances by a goalkeeper in recent MLS playoffs history with two wins in penalty shootouts. His eightsave performance against Atlanta United in 2017 had significance beyond just advancing in the postseason, with the match coming in the early days of the Save The Crew movement.
Astellar first playoffs by Room might not be as vital to the future of the Crew as that game against Atlanta in 2017, but his play in the first postseason of a new era for the club will be a factor in the excitement around the team moving into the year of the new stadium opening.
“I think you defend with all the team but it's always nice to be in a good rhythm for the playoffs,” Room said. “Hopefully I can keep this form and help the team out.”