Curaçao claim historic first World Cup point as Room stuns Ecuador

Few fans had heard of Eloy Room before this match, but the Curaçao goalkeeper produced a display that will be long remembered. Watched by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, the 37-year-old came within one save of Tim Howard’s single-game World Cup record of 16 from 2014, a run that helped the smallest nation to reach a finals earn a first-ever point on their World Cup debut and recover in style after a 7-1 reverse to Germany.

Enner Valencia should have settled Ecuador early but Room denied him inside two minutes, and the keeper – who earned a move to Miami FC off the back of his qualifying form – kept producing saves as the match flowed. A driving run from Tahith Chong lifted Curaçao before Juninho Bacuna shot wide, while Ecuador’s wing-backs pushed high and some slack passing began to undermine their possession advantage.

Sebastián Beccacece brought Kevin Rodríguez on for the booked Jordy Alcívar at half-time, but Room continued to repel efforts, including a header from a corner that deflected off his own player.

Curaçao

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