Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room delivers ‘unbelievable’ performance in 0-0 World Cup draw with Ecuador

KANSAS CITY – Tim Howard, a United States national team legend, stands alone in World Cup history with his 16-save performance in the Americans’ 2-1 last-16 loss to Belgium in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

But he may have been a bit worried on June 20, when Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room made 15 saves in a goal-less draw against Ecuador at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City to earn Curacao’s first-ever World Cup point.

At least Room hopes so.

“A little bit annoyed that I don’t have the record from Tim Howard, but I think he was sweating in front of the TV because I was close,” Room quipped in his press conference after the match.

In some ways, Room made history in the match. His 15 saves are the most in a World Cup match by a goalkeeper who kept a clean sheet. It is also a record for a 90-minute match, with Howard’s performance coming in a 120-minute extra-time game.

The fact that it came just one match after Room made only four saves from 12 shots on goal in Curacao’s 7-1 opening loss to Germany in Houston makes it that much more unbelievable.

“I think I need a statue in Curacao now,” the 37-year-old said.

According to some statistics websites, he actually tied the record. FIFA’s total of 16 saves by Howard is not a consensus tally.

That discrepancy does not seem to be affecting how Room views the game whatsoever.

“It’s going to be an insane memory,” he said. “You don’t think about it when you do it, but of course it’s going to be something you look back to.

“For me as a goalkeeper, this is almost a perfect game. It’s unbelievable. And I cannot do it alone.

“I did it with the team and my defenders and the midfielders, strikers. We did it as a team.”

Up next, a chance for Curacao, the smallest nation in population and size to qualify for the World Cup, to punch a ticket to the knockout stages, if they can beat Ivory Coast on June 25.

While his players were celebrating, Curacao coach Dick Advocaat’s thoughts went to the streets, bars and homes of the tiny Caribbean island where a nation of 156,000 was rejoicing.

“The people on Curacao have given us their support from the outset,” Advocaat said.

“Particularly last week, after the 7-1 (defeat), people were still celebrating on the island and people were full of joy.

“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.”

Advocaat said the warm reception the players received after the loss to Germany had left a lasting impression and helped fuel their response against Ecuador.

“(The team) gave it back to the audience today. I thought that was a wonderful moment to experience,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece insisted “it is not over yet” after the result left them with one point from two Group E games, and needing a good result against heavyweights Germany on June 25 to have any chance of reaching the last 32.

“Challenges can become opportunities. It is normal now to feel this pain, this disappointment, but this is not over yet. We have 100 minutes ahead of us... to try to reach our goals,” he said.

Ecuador arrived at the World Cup on a 19-match unbeaten run, having finished South American qualifying runners-up to reigning world champions Argentina.
REUTERS