Curacao's goalkeeper, Eloy Room, made history against Ecuador by securing a goalless draw, earning the team its first-ever point in their debut World Cup appearance. Room, who was named Man of the Match, made an extraordinary 15 saves against the Latin American team on Saturday, in Group E of the 2026 World Cup.
Room, who plays for Miami FC in the second tier of American soccer, emerged as the star of the match. He was named the best player for his record-breaking number of saves during normal time—15, with 6 in the first half. He nearly matched the World Cup record of 16 saves, set by American goalkeeper Tim Howard in a match against Belgium in the round of 16 of the 2014 Brazil World Cup.
This marked Curacao's first point after a harsh 1-7 defeat to Germany in the opening game. Likewise, it was Ecuador's first point following their 0-1 loss to the Ivory Coast, complicating Ecuador's chances of advancing past the first round. Ecuador is set to face Germany in the third and final round—a match that Germany enters, having already secured the top spot in the group with a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, the African team occupies second place with three points.
Ecuador applied pressure early on, nearly scoring in the third minute. Captain and Pachuca striker Enner Valencia broke into the area following a long pass from Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo, finding himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. His powerful strike was deflected by Room onto the crossbar, resulting in a corner kick to no avail (3).
Dutch Zwolle defender Sherel Floranus responded with a powerful shot from inside the box during a counterattack, which narrowly missed the left post (8).
Italian Venezia midfielder John Yeboah nearly scored when he broke into the area and aimed a low shot, met by a save from Room (12). Shortly after, Mexican Pumas midfielder Pedro Vite made an attempt from the far right corner, missing the goal (14).
Vite sent a powerful shot from about 35 meters that was saved by Room in two attempts (16). Arsenal's Piero Hincapie crossed to Valencia, whose close-range attempt was caught by Room (20).
Brazilian Flamengo striker Gonzalo Plata unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the area, again met by Room (28).
Room continued his impressive performance by saving powerful shots from inside the box taken by Estupinan (40) and Yeboah (42).
Swiss Zurich's midfielder Levan Komenencia tested his luck with a long shot saved by Argentine Huracan's goalkeeper Hernan Galindez (45+2).
Ecuador maintained its advantage in the second half, as Caicedo fired a low shot from outside the area, saved by Room (50), who also stopped a close-range header from Plata before the defense cleared (59).
Ecuador's goalkeeper, Galindez, matched Room's heroics with two excellent saves in one play—a long-range shot by PSV's Armando Obispo and a powerful shot from inside the area by Komenencia (63).
Room deflected Valencia's close-range header to a corner (66), then stopped two headers from substitute Kevin Rodriguez and Paris Saint-Germain's Willian Pacho (67).
Room managed to stop a powerful long-range shot from substitute Nelson Angulo, Sunderland striker (72).
Galindez saved a strong shot from Juninho Bacuna before the defense cleared (77).
Room stopped another powerful shot from Vite outside the area (89), and a cross from fellow substitute Angelo Preciado bounced off the crossbar (90).