Before this match, few Ecuador fans or others may have known the name Eloy Room, but his performance will not soon be forgotten.
With King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands watching from the stands, the Curaçao goalkeeper delivered a legendary display, likely one of the finest in World Cup history.
Room, at 37 years old and often a backup in the Eredivisie, came within one save of equaling Tim Howard’s record for the most saves in a World Cup match, which stands at 16 from 2014, albeit that included extra time. Since 1966, no goalkeeper has made more saves in a standard 90-minute World Cup match. This remarkable feat secured Curaçao, the smallest nation by population to reach a World Cup finals, their first point in the tournament, drawing against a formidable opponent after recovering from a heavy defeat to Germany.
“I still have to process it myself,” said Room, who shared that Queen Máxima congratulated him with a kiss in the changing room. “I’m a bit annoyed that I didn’t get the record in the end but I think Tim Howard was sweating a bit.”
Coach Dick Advocaat, who had resigned in February due to his daughter’s health issues before returning last month, shed tears at the end of the match. “We have come from nothing and they fought like lions. It will be a big party on the island tonight and they deserve it.” he expressed. “There are things you cannot explain in football – we’ve had 27 shots on goal but we couldn’t score,”
For Ecuador, the match was yet another disappointing outing, leaving the field to boos from their supporters as Curaçao celebrated on the pitch. They must now win against Germany in their last group match to have any hope of advancing. “It is normal to feel this pain but we still have a chance to put things right.” lamented head coach Sebastián Beccacece. “It is normal to feel this pain but we still have a chance to put things right.”
Despite their heavy loss to Julian Nagelsmann’s team, Curaçao’s fans remained enthusiastic, with estimates suggesting that around 5% of the island’s 160,000 residents traveled to the US for the match. They held their own in the pre-match atmosphere at what is known as the loudest stadium globally.
However, the blue-clad supporters, who brought a brass band to play the national anthem, were vastly outnumbered by an eager Ecuadorian crowd, including a significant number of expatriates ready to make amends for their surprise loss to Côte d’Ivoire that had ended a long unbeaten streak.
Beccacece, a stylish Argentine with a background at Lionel Messi’s former club Newell’s Old Boys, had warned against underestimating their opponents ranked 83rd by FIFA. “We are not Germany,” he cautioned ahead of the match.
With a squad filled with players from top European clubs, including Arsenal’s Piero Hincapié and Willian Pacho of Paris Saint-Germain, Ecuador was expected to perform well after a strong showing in South American qualifying.
Enner Valencia had a golden opportunity to calm the nerves early, breaking through on goal in the second minute. Yet, Room, who earned a transfer to Miami FC after his stellar qualifying performances, made a stunning save to deflect the ball around the post.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, having just witnessed a 5-1 victory by the Netherlands against Sweden, may have feared for the territory, located just miles from South America and colonized by the Dutch centuries ago. However, Curaçao proved they were not merely there to participate as they gained momentum with a driving run from Tahith Chong, the only player from the island, followed by a close shot from Juninho Bacuna.
Encouraged by the space his team found on the flanks while Ecuador’s wingbacks advanced, Advocaat saw his players create more opportunities. Beccacece began to show signs of frustration as Pedro Vite missed a chance and careless passing undermined their control. Just before halftime, Valencia and John Yeboah both tested Room, who again rose to the occasion.
Recognizing the need for improvement, Beccacece made a tactical change at halftime, substituting Jordy Alcívar with Kevin Rodríguez after Alcívar received a yellow card. Room continued his stellar performance, making a routine save from Moisés Caicedo before somehow denying a header that had deflected off his own teammate.
As the match progressed, Curaçao’s discipline began to falter under pressure, yet they remained dangerous on the counterattack. A clever back-heel from Bacuna set up Leandro, the captain, but Ecuador’s goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez had to make a spectacular triple save from attempts by Livano Comenencia and Jürgen Locadia.
Room again showcased his skills shortly thereafter, stopping a header from Rodríguez and denying further attempts from Valencia and Pacho. Hincapié came close with a header from a corner, and Ángelo Preciado’s cross struck the crossbar. Valencia squandered the best opportunity to secure a win for Ecuador, leaving Curaçao elated with their hard-fought draw.
