Curaçao’s first point in a World Cup, achieved in the draw against Ecuador this Saturday (20), had a first and last name: Eloy Room.
The 37-year-old goalkeeper saved 15 shots that went directly into the goal in the Group E match.
For comparison, goalkeeper Vozinha, 40, from Cape Verde, made seven saves in the game against Spain. He was praised by the media after that match.
The all-time record for saves in a World Cup game, according to FIFA (International Football Federation), is held by Tim Howard, from the United States, who made 16 saves against Belgium in the round of 16 of the tournament in Brazil, in 2014.
Curaçao’s 0-0 draw came after the 7-1 defeat they suffered in their debut against Germany. The World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada is the first in which the Caribbean team participates.
Born in Nijmegen, in the Netherlands, Room has Curacao ancestry on his father’s side and chose to play for the Caribbean national team, despite having played in the Dutch national team’s youth teams.
Room had two spells at Vitesse, in the Netherlands, for which he played 104 games. He also played for PSV (five matches).
The goalkeeper is currently at Miami FC, a club in the second division of football in the United States (USL Championship).
