Eloy Room produced one of the most remarkable goalkeeping performances in World Cup history during Curacao’s 0-0 draw with Ecuador in Kansas City.

The 37-year-old veteran made 15 saves across 90 minutes, setting a new World Cup record for the most saves in a match without extra time, according to Opta, with records dating back to 1966.

The only comparable performance in World Cup history belongs to Tim Howard, who made 16 saves for the United States against Belgium in 2014, but that match went to extra time.

Howard’s heroics ultimately ended in defeat, with the USA eliminated 2-1 in the Round of 16, making Room’s clean sheet all the more remarkable given Curacao’s standing as a first-time World Cup nation.

The result secured Curacao’s first ever point at a World Cup, continuing a string of underdog stories to emerge from the expanded 48-team tournament hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Curacao qualified for the tournament through the Concacaf region under former Rangers and Netherlands manager Dick Advocaat, topping a group that included Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Bermuda.

The island nation has a population of just 98,000 and sits in the Caribbean just north of Latin America as part of the Dutch crown, with many of their players drawn from the large Dutch diaspora.

Room himself qualifies for Curacao through his father and grew up in the Netherlands, where he spent much of his professional career playing for clubs including PSV Eindhoven and Vitesse Arnhem.

The goalkeeper currently plays for Miami FC and joins a growing list of veteran shot-stoppers making headlines at this tournament, following 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha’s impressive display against Spain.

Cape Verde earned a 0-0 draw with Spain in the tournament’s early stages, while Qatar secured their first ever World Cup point in stoppage time against Switzerland, adding to the compelling narratives of this historic edition.

Room’s record-breaking display has underlined what the expanded World Cup format can produce, giving smaller nations the platform to deliver moments that will be remembered long after the tournament concludes.

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