Columbus Crew SC starting goalkeeper Eloy Room questionable for Eastern Conference Final

Crew GK Room questionable for East Final

Eloy Room – Columbus Crew – save

After missing his team's Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup with Nashville SC, Columbus Crew SC goalkeeper Eloy Room is questionable ahead of the East Final against the New England Revolution at MAPFRE Stadium on Sunday.


Room was among several Crew players who sat out the game against Nashville with a "not medically cleared to play" designation.


Columbus received a handful of positive COVID-19 tests leading up the match with Nashville, though the club has not named the players involved out of respect for their privacy.


Porter said earlier this week that he was expecting some players back in training this weekend, but noted that the period away from the team and training might make it a tight timeframe regarding their availability for Sunday's match.


"If you can imagine a player for 10 days being quarantined with no training, no fitness because we aren't able to do anything physically with them that would raise their heart rate, it becomes very difficult and tricky for these guys coming back in to be able to play a major role," Porter said. 


Columbus managed to weather Room's absence in the Nashville match, holding the visitors off the scoresheet in a 2-0 extra-time victory as reserve goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell filled in.


Room started 17 matches for the Crew this season, making 41 saves and posting seven clean sheets while manning a Crew defense that was one of the better units in MLS.