Eloy Room equals World Cup saves record in Curacao’s 0-0 draw with Ecuador

Eloy Room produced the performance of a lifetime to help Curacao claim their first-ever World Cup point in a gritty 0-0 draw with Ecuador. The 37-year-old made 15 saves at Arrowhead Stadium, the most recorded in a 90-minute World Cup match, and in doing so matched the benchmark set by former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard; while FIFA officially credited Howard with 16 saves in 2014, other statisticians such as Opta recorded 15, meaning Room has at least equalled that total.

Unlike Howard, Room’s heroics resulted in a clean sheet and a vital point for his country. Room faced an onslaught, dealing with 28 shots from an increasingly desperate Ecuador side and keeping out 15 shots on target despite the visitors producing 3.08 expected goals (xG).

The result was a welcome response after Curacao had endured a bruising 7-1 defeat to Germany in their opening fixture.

Curacao

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