The Voice celebrates Curaçao’s win today writing, “Caribbean minnows provide a display of resilience and determination as they gain a historic first World Cup point against Ecuador.” The article underlines the extraordinary performance by goalkeeper Eloy Room.
Curaçao shut out Ecuador through Eloy Room’s goalkeeping masterclass as he made 15 saves to preserve the stalemate and deny them their first win at this year’s World Cup, reports Olivia Clark. Room’s display ranks as the joint most saves ever recorded inside 90 minutes at a World Cup match, level with only American Tim Howard’s performance against Belgium in 2014.
His historic performance came in front of a crowd of more than 70,000 spectators – around half the population of Curaçao itself. The Caribbean nation’s population is also around 110 times smaller than Ecuador’s, making the result all the more remarkable.
The Blue Wave set up from the off in a defensive manner, playing a 5-4-1 formation to focus on protecting the box. The lack of any corners or big chances for the side proved their unwillingness to take risks going forward.
[. . .] 19 of their shots came after the half time break, pinning Curaçao deep inside their own half. But the Blue Wave’s resistance never wavered as they frustrated the South Americans until the final whistle.
Curaçao rarely threatened going forward, with their first shot on target coming in the 60th minute through Leandro Bacuna, whose effort was comfortably saved. Their 37-year-old goalkeeper reaffirmed the spirit of the tiny island nation, producing a performance that embodies Curaçao’s resilience and determination.
The draw confirms Germany as Group E winners, while Ecuador and Curaçao will head into the final round of fixtures still battling for a place in the knockout stages.
For full article, see https://www.voice-online.co.uk/sport/football/2026/06/21/curacao-provide-world-cups-magic-moment/
[Photo by Hakan Akgun/Anadolu via Getty Images: Goalkeeper Eloy Room of Curaçao.]
The Voice celebrates Curaçao’s win today writing, “Caribbean minnows provide a display of resilience and determination as they gain a historic first World Cup point against Ecuador.” The article underlines the extraordinary performance by goalkeeper Eloy Room. Curaçao shut out Ecuador through Eloy Room’s goalkeeping masterclass as he made 15 saves to preserve the stalemate
