In a night of firsts for Mamelodi Sundowns at the Club World Cup, their star goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, found himself in a truly unique spotlight and mixed bag.
While celebrating a momentous 1-0 victory against Ulsan HD, Williams unintentionally made history by becoming the first goalkeeper in the world to concede a corner kick under the new FIFA rule.
A Club World Cup of contrasts for Williams
The shortstopper was stunned when he was penalised for holding the ball too long. He held it for 14 seconds – well over the 8-second limit.
This new FIFA rule aims to speed up the game, awarding a corner kick if a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than eight seconds.
This new rule is a move to curb time-wasting by players and clubs. Williams’ moment, though an “unwanted record”, highlights the immediate impact of these changes on the sport.
Yet, despite this unique incident, Williams also had a night to truly celebrate.
Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper’s historic clean sheet
Amidst the unusual penalty, Ronwen Williams managed to shine through by becoming the first South African goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in the FIFA Club tournament.
This remarkable achievement speaks volumes about his consistent excellence.
Before this competition, the Mamelodi Sundowns goalie had already notched an incredible 21 clean sheets in 36 games during the recently concluded South African Premiership campaign.
Often hailed as the best in Africa and the greatest in South Africa, Williams’ performance was crucial as Mamelodi Sundowns secured their vital 1-0 win over Ulsan HD.
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