Curacao's Room Sets World Cup Saves Record in 0-0 Draw
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- Eloy Room made 15 saves in Curacao's 0-0 draw with Ecuador at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, setting a new record for most saves in 90 minutes of a World Cup match since records began in 1966.
- Curacao earned their first-ever World Cup point despite being ranked 81st in the world, having a population of just 158,000, and losing their opener 7-1 to Germany.
- Ecuador dominated the stat sheet with 27 shots and an xG of 3.05 but failed to score for a second straight game, leaving them with one point from two matches and needing to beat table-topping Germany to reach the knockout stage.
- Enner Valencia was the most wasteful finisher with 7 shots, denied by Room's best save in just the third minute when clean through on goal, before Gonzalo Plata's close-range header was parried later in the match.
- Ecuador's struggles fit a pattern flagged by Sky Sports' David Richardson: eight of their 18 qualifiers ended 0-0, five of eight pre-tournament friendlies were draws, and after Valencia (49 international goals) their next-highest scorer is Gonzalo Plata with just eight.
- Room, 37, plays for second-tier Miami FC in the USL Championship, and his career resume includes an Eredivisie title with PSV in 2017/18 and an MLS Cup win with Columbus Crew, where he made 102 appearances and won MLS Save of the Year.
Why it matters: Ecuador's failure to beat a team ranked 81st in the world — despite an xG of 3.05 — leaves them facing a must-win against Germany, while Curacao's unlikely point keeps their qualification path alive and cements Room's performance as the defining individual display of the group stage.
