Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Eloy Room quipped he wants a statute after his record-breaking effort for Curacao against Ecuador.
Room made a whopping 15 saves as Curacao frustrated Ecuador in a 0-0 draw at Kansas City Stadium.
His tally of stops is the most in a World Cup match (since 1966) that did not go to extra time.
Tim Howard made 15 saves against Belgium for the United States in 2014, but that match lasted 120 minutes.
Room is the fifth CONCACAF goalkeeper over the last 50 years to record nine or more saves in a single World Cup match, joining Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa and the USA’s Tony Meola, Howard and Brad Friedel.
And the 37-year-old is expecting special treatment in Curacao.
“It means everything, it feels like a victory, it’s the first point at the World Cup, it means everything,” he said.
“It is unreal, the journey where we came from and we are now here and we showed we have real heart, it’s an unbelievable feeling.
“I knew it was a lot of saves. I know it was a record from a long time ago, so I am really proud.
What a performance from Curaçao goalkeeper Eloy Room, who made 15 saves against Ecuador.
It’s the most shots on target faced by a goalkeeper at a men’s World Cup on record (since 1966) while keeping a clean sheet. pic.twitter.com/3RHzVjvPRO
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) June 21, 2026
“It was a really good feeling. My first save gave me confidence, I knew it was going to be a busy game.
“I am little bit bummed because we had chances to score. For us this feels like a victory.
“I think in 40 years I will remember this, it will be insane. I think I need a statue in Curacao now.”
Ecuador’s tally of 15 shots on target is the highest for a CONMEBOL nation in a World Cup match since 1966, and the second-highest overall in this century, behind the 17 for Belgium against the USA in 2014.
Sebastian Beccacece’s team recorded 3.05 expected goals, the highest tally for a team that couldn’t score in the match at this World Cup, and 1.7 xG came from shots from Enner Valencia, also the highest number of expected goals for a single player without scoring at this edition of the tournament so far.
Ecuador sit third in Group E heading into their clash with Germany, and Beccacece has not given up hope of progressing to the knockouts, despite his team so far failing to score a goal.
“Life has taught me you have to always continue to work, always learn, and challenges can become opportunities,” said Beccacece, whose team were on a 19-match unbeaten run prior to the World Cup.
“It is normal now to feel this pain, this disappointment, but this is not over yet. We have 100 minutes ahead of us, and we’re going to be there in a sound way to try to reach our goals.
“There are things you cannot explain in soccer. Anything I say might be counter-productive. We wanted to win. We didn’t do it. I am the one who bears the responsibility. “The team deserved more than they got.”
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