Keeper Room shines as Curacao hold Ecuador for historic World Cup draw

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Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group E - Ecuador v Curacao - Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. - June 20, 2026 Ecuador's Kevin Rodriguez in action with Curacao's Deveron Fonville REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group E - Ecuador v Curacao - Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. - June 20, 2026 Curacao's Eloy Room in action as he makes a save from Ecuador's Gonzalo Plata REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group E - Ecuador v Curacao - Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. - June 20, 2026 Ecuador's Piero Hincapie in action with Curacao's Jurien Gaari REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group E - Ecuador v Curacao - Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. - June 20, 2026 Curacao's Eloy Room in action as he makes a save from Ecuador's Gonzalo Plata REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group E - Ecuador v Curacao - Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. - June 20, 2026 Curacao's Eloy Room in action as he makes a save from Ecuador's Willian Pacho REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

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KANSAS CITY, Missouri, June 20 : Tiny Curacao battled to a 0-0 draw with Ecuador to earn the first World Cup point in the Caribbean island's history on Saturday after an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Eloy Room enabled them to celebrate a landmark day.

Six days after being humbled 7-1 by Germany on their World Cup debut, Curacao - the smallest nation ever to reach the finals with a population of about 156,000 - produced a resilient display to frustrate the South Americans and keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.

Room was the standout figure, making 15 saves and just missing out on the World Cup record of 16 by American Tim Howard in 2014, as they withstood sustained pressure before earning a result that ranks among the finest in their sporting history.

The draw that confirmed Germany as Group E winners was a blow for Ecuador - who arrived at the tournament on a 19-game unbeaten run - and their fans, who were left deflated as chances went begging, leaving them with a point from two games.

Source: Reuters

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