Eloy Room's 15 saves make history in Curacao's first World Cup point

Eloy Room etched his name in World Cup history on Tuesday, delivering a goalkeeping masterclass for Curacao against Ecuador. The 35-year-old made a staggering 15 saves during the 0-0 draw, a performance that not only secured a historic point for his nation but also equaled a long-standing record.

According to Opta, Room's 15 interventions matched the highest number of saves recorded in a single FIFA World Cup match played entirely within regulation time. This remarkable feat prevented Ecuador, who registered 29 shots with a high expected goals (xG) value of 3.05, from finding the back of the net.

The draw marks a monumental achievement for Curacao, earning them their first-ever point in the finals of a World Cup. Coming off a heavy 7-1 defeat to Germany in their debut, the team rallied to achieve this unexpected result against an Ecuadorian side seeking to rebound from a difficult start to the tournament.

Room's heroic performance drew comparisons to legendary World Cup goalkeepers like Tim Howard, Guillermo Ochoa, and Lev Yashin. While Tim Howard holds the absolute record with 16 saves against Belgium in 2014, that match went into extra time. Room's 15 saves all occurred within the standard 90 minutes, highlighting the sheer intensity and dominance Ecuador exerted throughout the game. The goalkeeper, who plays for Miami FC, gained significant international attention following the match, with his performance becoming a trending topic on social media.

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15 - Curaçao's Eloy Room recorded 15 saves against Ecuador, the most on record (since 1966) by any goalkeeper in a FIFA World Cup match that did not feature extra-time.