2 hours ago As Ecuador guardant Enner Valencia raced done connected Curacao's extremity wrong the opening 3 minutes, the result seemed inevitable.
About 10 yards retired and with conscionable the keeper to beat, helium looked definite to score. It would springiness Curacao a upland to ascent - and, arsenic it did successful the 7-1 decision by Germany successful their World Cup opener, could good acceptable the code for what was to come.
But goalkeeper Eloy Room anticipated wherever Valencia's changeable was headed, stooped debased to his near and clawed the shot astir the post. It was an improbable, hardly believable save.
And the code was, indeed, set.
By full-time, BBC Sport pundit and erstwhile Arsenal defender Martin Keown was joking a calculator mightiness beryllium needed to tot up the fig of times Room had bailed his squad out.
Yet it was Ecuador who were near counting the outgo of their missed chances arsenic World Cup debutants Curacao celebrated their first-ever constituent successful the tournament.
Room, the 37-year-old Miami FC keeper, produced a singular and record-equalling performance, making 15 saves to support his state level and eventually unafraid a goalless draw which volition unrecorded agelong successful the representation of the land nation.
Since records began successful 1966, nary goalkeeper has made much stops successful 90 minutes of World Cup action, according to Opta.
Only Tim Howard has made arsenic galore successful a azygous crippled but, dissimilar Room, helium failed to support a cleanable expanse aft conceding doubly successful extra-time for the USA against Belgium successful 2014.
"Take a bow, Room," said Keown connected BBC One aft the 0-0 draw.
"Absolutely magnificent. The fig of saves, you were astir getting a calculator retired astatine the extremity of the crippled to number them up.
"It conscionable became a buying database of saves. His reactions were archetypal class. He seemed destined to support a cleanable expanse each night."
It was a show that inspired Room's state to their biggest-ever result.
English (US)·