Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room matches Tim Howard's World Cup record
Eloy Room made 15 saves for Curacao against Ecuador, equaling Tim Howard's World Cup record and securing his nation's first-ever tournament point.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Author: Conceited 2
Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room has etched his name into the World Cup record books after a remarkable performance in a scoreless draw against Ecuador. The 37-year-old made 15 saves at Arrowhead Stadium, the highest tally recorded in a 90-minute World Cup match.
This performance pulls Room level with the benchmark set by former USMNT star Tim Howard during his iconic 2014 outing against Belgium. While FIFA officially credited Howard with 16 saves, statistical data from Opta lists that figure as 15, matching Room's impressive feat. Unlike Howard, however, Room’s heroics directly secured a clean sheet and a vital point for his country.
Following a heavy 7-1 opening defeat to Germany, the result provided a massive morale boost for the Caribbean side. Room handled 28 total shots from Ecuador, 15 of which were on target, in a display of elite reflexes and positioning.
It's going to be an insane memory. For me as a goalkeeper, this is almost a perfect game. Eloy Room
The veteran's profile has skyrocketed overnight, with his Instagram following surging from 100,000 to nearly 800,000. In a surreal post-match scene, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands visited the Curacao locker room, where they reportedly joined the players in dancing to their team music.
Curacao manager Dick Advocaat praised his squad's resilience, noting the pride of playing in front of 60,000 people after starting from humble beginnings. The draw leaves Curacao with an outside chance of qualification heading into their final group stage match against Ivory Coast.