Eloy Room, the 37-year-old Miami FC goalkeeper, delivered a legendary performance to help Curacao earn their first-ever point at the World Cup in a 0-0 draw against Ecuador. Facing 27 shots and an expected goals figure of 3.05, Room made 15 saves to equal the single-game record for most saves in a World Cup match since 1966. While Tim Howard matched this number in 2014, he failed to keep a clean sheet, distinguishing Room’s feat.
The match began with a crucial stop against Enner Valencia, setting the tone for a resilient defensive effort. Room, who was convinced to play for Curacao by former manager Patrick Kluivert, has been a key figure in the squad’s journey, including their qualification success. His background includes time in the Dutch Eredivisie with PSV and Vitesse, along with a stint at Columbus Crew where he won an MLS Cup.
As the smallest nation to ever qualify for the tournament, with a population of just 156,000, Curacao celebrated the result as a major historic milestone. Observed by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, the draw offers the island nation a chance to reach the knockout stage if they defeat Ivory Coast in their final group match. Former defender Martin Keown praised Room’s reactions, describing his performance as truly magnificent.
