Curaçao made history in Group E of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, holding Ecuador to a goalless draw thanks to a heroic performance from 37-year-old Eloy Room.
Softfootball gathered that The Miami FC keeper matched Tim Howard’s record of 15 saves in a World Cup game, but unlike Howard’s 2014 effort, Room kept a clean sheet.
His first save came just three minutes in against Enner Valencia, setting the tone for a night of defiance. Room denied John Yeboah, Moisés Caicedo, Pedro Vite, Kevin Rodriguez, Nilson Angulo, and Gonzalo Plata among others, frustrating Ecuador’s 27 attempts.
Curaçao even threatened on the hour mark when Leandro Bacuna forced a save, while Livano Comenencia also tested Hernán Galíndez. Ecuador, wasteful in front of goal, must now beat group winners Germany to progress, while Curaçao who lost 7-1 to Germany in their first game could qualify if they defeat Ivory Coast in their final match.
Player Ratings
Ecuador
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Hernán Galíndez | 6 |
| Piero Hincapié | 7 |
| Willian Pacho | 7 |
| Alan Franco | 7 |
| Jordy Alcívar | 5 |
| Pervis Estupiñán | 5 |
| Moisés Caicedo | 8 |
| Pedro Vite | 7 |
| John Yeboah | 6 |
| Enner Valencia | 5 |
| Gonzalo Plata | 7 |
| Subs: Kevin Rodriguez (7), Nilson Angulo (5), Ángelo Preciado (6), Jordy Caicedo (N/A) |
Curaçao
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Eloy Room | 9 (Man of the Match) |
| Deveron Fonville | 7 |
| Sherel Floranus | 7 |
| Armando Obispo | 7 |
| Jurien Gaari | 7 |
| Joshua Brenet | 8 |
| Juninho Bacuna | 6 |
| Leandro Bacuna | 6 |
| Livano Comenencia | 6 |
| Tahith Chong | 8 |
| Jurgen Locadia | 6 |
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Ecuador | Curaçao |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 64% | 36% |
| Total Shots | 27 | 6 |
| Shots on Target | 7 | 2 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 2.34 | 0.58 |
| Fouls Committed | 11 | 9 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Corners | 9 | 3 |
| Saves | 2 | 15 |
