Before this match, few Ecuador fans—and perhaps even fewer others—were familiar with the name Eloy Room. However, his performance will be remembered long after this game.
In attendance were King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, witnessing Room’s heroic display as Curaçao’s goalkeeper, marking him as a standout figure in World Cup history. His efforts in this match are among the most remarkable seen in the tournament’s extensive legacy.
The 37-year-old, who has largely played second fiddle in his career with various Eredivisie teams, came within a single save of breaking Tim Howard’s record of 16 saves in a single men’s World Cup match, achieved in 2014 during extra time. This performance allowed Curaçao, the nation with the smallest population ever to reach a World Cup finals, to earn their first point in their debut against formidable opponents, bouncing back from a 7-1 defeat to Germany just days earlier.
“I still have to process it myself,” expressed a thrilled Room, sharing that he received a congratulatory kiss from Queen Máxima in the locker room afterward. “I’m a bit annoyed that I didn’t get the record in the end but I think Tim Howard was sweating on it a bit.”
Coach Dick Advocaat, who briefly stepped down earlier this year due to family health concerns before returning last month, was visibly emotional at the final whistle. “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 remarked. “There are things you cannot explain in football – we’ve had 27 shots on goal but we couldn’t score,”
In contrast, Ecuador’s players exited the field to discontent from their supporters as Curaçao celebrated with their fans. They now face a must-win game against Germany to keep their hopes of advancement alive. “It is normal to feel this pain but we still have a chance to put things right.” lamented coach Sebastián Beccacece. “It is normal to feel this pain but we still have a chance to put things right.”
Despite the disappointing performance against Julian Nagelsmann’s team, the spirit of the Curaçao fans remained high, with an estimated 5% of the 160,000 population traveling to the United States for the match. They made their presence felt, competing in the pre-match noise contest at the venue known as the loudest stadium in the world, typically home to the Kansas City Chiefs.
During the match, the blue-shirted fans who had brought their own brass band to perform the national anthem were outnumbered by an eager Ecuadorian crowd, bolstered by a significant local expatriate community ready to make up for their unexpected loss to Côte d’Ivoire, which had ended a 19-match unbeaten streak.
Beccacece, a stylish coach with a history at Lionel Messi’s youth club, Newell’s Old Boys, warned against overconfidence, especially facing a team ranked 83rd by FIFA. “We are not Germany,” he cautioned prior to the match.
With a lineup filled with players from top European clubs, such as Arsenal’s Piero Hincapié and PSG’s Willian Pacho, La Tri were expected to perform well after finishing second in South American qualifying.
Enner Valencia had a golden opportunity to calm the nerves early in the game, but Room, who secured a spot with Miami FC following impressive qualifying performances, made a stunning save, deflecting the shot around the post.
Having witnessed a commanding 5-1 victory by Ronald Koeman’s team over Sweden just hours earlier, King Willem may have anticipated a difficult game for the territory less than 40 miles from South America. Yet, Curaçao proved they were not merely participants, with a dynamic run from Sheffield United’s Tahith Chong, the only player born on the island, raising the tempo, followed by a missed shot from Juninho Bacuna.
Advocaat was encouraged by the space his players found along the wings as Ecuador’s wing-backs advanced upfield. The frustration for Beccacece grew when Pedro Vite missed a shot, and some careless passing undermined their control of possession. Valencia and John Yeboah both tested Room just before halftime, but the goalkeeper continued to shine.
With the second half underway, Ecuador needed to elevate their performance. Beccacece substituted Jordy Alcívar for Kevin Rodríguez after Alcívar received a booking. Room quickly resumed his stellar form, making a basic save from Moisés Caicedo before astonishingly stopping a goal-bound header that deflected off one of his teammates.
As Curaçao’s discipline began to wane, they were pushed back but remained a threat on counterattacks. A clever backheel from Bacuna set up his older brother and captain Leandro, forcing Hernán Galíndez into a triple save from Livano Comenencia and Jürgen Locadia.
Room was again the star moments later when Rodríguez’s powerful header from a corner was turned aside, and he continued to deny further attempts from Valencia and Pacho. Hincapié missed a chance to score with a header, and Valencia squandered a crucial opportunity to secure a win as Ecuador failed to avert disaster, leaving Curaçao feeling triumphant.
