Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room made a historic 15 saves to secure a 0-0 draw against Ecuador in their FIFA World Cup Group E match on Saturday, June 20, 2026. The result, which earned Curacao their first-ever World Cup point, left Ecuador with just one point from two matches and in desperate need of a result against Germany in their final group game.
Ecuador dominated possession and created numerous chances, with Room producing a string of spectacular stops to deny the South Americans. The 37-year-old goalkeeper's performance set a new record for the most saves in a 90-minute World Cup match, just one shy of the all-time record of 16 set by Tim Howard in 2014.
Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece insisted his team's hopes of advancing to the knockout stage were not over yet. 'Life has taught me you have to always continue to work, always learn, and challenges can become opportunities,' he said. 'We have 100 minutes ahead of us, and we're going to be there in a sound way to try to reach our goals.'
Curacao coach Dick Advocaat praised his team's resilience, noting that the result was a reward for supporters who never lost faith despite a bruising 7-1 defeat by Germany in their World Cup debut. 'The people on Curacao have given us their support from the outset,' Advocaat said. 'It was a mad house tonight. So I think that for people whose life is not always that easy, I really wish them to celebrate this success.'
The draw confirmed Germany's place in the knockout stage after their 2-1 win over Ivory Coast earlier in the day. Ecuador will now face Germany in New Jersey on Thursday, while Curacao will take on Ivory Coast in Philadelphia.
Ecuador's Enner Valencia had a terrific chance in the third minute when he was one-on-one with Room, but the keeper dived to tip the ball wide of the post with a stunning one-handed save. That set the stage for Room's heroic display as he repeatedly denied Ecuador and gradually turned frustration into disbelief among the South American side and their supporters.
'They fought like lions,' Advocaat said of his players. 'I thought that was a wonderful moment to experience.'
For many observers, Curacao's opening rout against Germany appeared to confirm fears that FIFA's expanded 48-team tournament would produce a string of one-sided contests. However, Advocaat said his side's performance against Ecuador showed the true level of his players. 'Maybe Germany came too early,' he said. 'That day they were simply out of our league, but today they were not.'
Ecuador's supporters, who greatly outnumbered Curacao's, broke into chants of 'Si se puede! (Yes we can!)' throughout the match. But when the final whistle sounded, it was greeted by celebrations from Curacao's players, who delightedly made a beeline for Room, while Ecuador's fans stood in stunned silence, knowing a match they had been expected to win had slipped away.
The result leaves Ecuador under pressure heading into their final group match against Germany. Beccacece defended his players' effort, saying the team deserved more than they got. 'There are things you cannot explain in soccer,' he said. 'Anything I say might be counter-productive. We wanted to win. We didn't do it. I am the one who bears the responsibility.'