World Cup 2026: Eloy Rom equals record and Curacao makes history

With Ecuadorian striker Ener Valencia advancing past Curacao in the first three minutes, the result seemed inevitable.

About 10 yards out and with only the goalkeeper around, it looked like he would surely score. That would give Curacao a mountain to climb – and, as in the 7-1 defeat to Germany in their World Cup opener, could set the tone for what is to come.

But goalkeeper Eloy Rom anticipated where Valencia’s shot was going, so he leaned to his left and curled the ball around the post. It was an improbable, hardly believable rescue.

The tone has already been set.

Full-time, BBC sports critic and former Arsenal defender Martin Keown joked that a calculator might be needed to increase the number of times Rohm has saved his team.

However, it was Ecuador that kept counting the cost of their missed opportunities as Curacao, making their World Cup debut, celebrated their first ever point in the tournament.

Rom, the 37-year-old Miami goalkeeper, put in an impressive, record-equaling performance, making 15 saves to keep his country level and eventually achieve a goalless draw that will live long in the island nation’s memory.

Since records began in 1966, no goalkeeper has made more stops during 90 minutes of World Cup matches, according to Opta.

Only Tim Howard has scored that many in a single match, but he, unlike Rohm, failed to keep a clean sheet after conceding two extra-time goals for the USA against Belgium in 2014.

Rom joked after the 0-0 draw that Howard was “sweating at home” watching the game and his performance meant he “needs a statue in Curacao”.

“Bend over, room,” Keown added on BBC One. “Absolutely wonderful.

“The number of saves, I was about to get a calculator at the end of the game to calculate it.

“It just became a shopping list of saves. His reflexes were first class. He looked destined to keep a clean sheet all night.”

It was a performance that inspired Country Room to their biggest hit ever.