Eloy Room inspired Curacao to a historic first World Cup point as the tournament debutants held Ecuador to a 0-0 draw at Kansas City Stadium. 

Room made 15 saves to keep Ecuador's attack at bay, with Curacao's performance also ensuring that Germany would finish top of Group E after their earlier win over Ivory Coast. 

Ecuador's lightning start was almost rewarded in the third minute when Moises Caicedo's ball from deep sent Enner Valencia on his way, but after getting past Armando Obispo, his shot was brilliantly tipped behind by Room. 

Room continued to frustrate Ecuador, with John Yeboah seeing his low drive well held before the Curacao goalkeeper thwarted Valencia once again from close range after he latched on to Piero Hincapie's teasing ball into the penalty area. 

Yeboah's stinging 42nd-minute effort brought another save out of Room as Curacao held on until half-time, but Ecuador's pressure mounted after the break as Caicedo tried his luck from distance and forced another stop. 

And it was another intervention by Room from Gonzalo Plata's header that led to a rare Curacao counter, but Hernan Galindez was on his toes to make two important saves to repel Leandro Bacuna and Livano Comenencia's attempts in quick succession. 

Room's extraordinary outing carried on just after the hour when he got down low to push Valencia's header behind, with the resulting corner seeing some heroic defending by Sherel Floranus followed up by Willian Pacho seeing his strike saved.

Both sides threatened a winner late on, with Galindez making a vital reflex stop to thwart Juninho Bacuna's deflected effort, though Room continued to outdo his opposite number with a flying save to tip Pedro Vite's drilled shot over. 

And even when Room was powerless, the woodwork was there to back him up in the 90th minute after Angelo Preciado's cross clipped the crossbar, with Curacao able to hold on to spark wild scenes among their travelling supporters. 

No Room at the inn for Ecuador

Having already seen Vozinha put in a sensational goalkeeping display for fellow World Cup debutants Cape Verde in their goalless draw with Spain, Room produced an even more impressive performance here to help his team make history. 

Many would have been disheartened after letting seven goals in against Germany, but Room dusted himself down and made 15 saves, which is tied for the most in a single match in World Cup history, along with Tim Howard against Belgium in 2014, though that match did go to extra-time. 

But for Ecuador, it was the same old story. After hitting the woodwork three times against Ivory Coast, their 15 shots on target here is the highest for a CONMEBOL nation in a World Cup match since 1966, and the second-highest overall this century, behind the 17 for Belgium against the United States in 2014.

The result also saw Ecuador lose back-to-back matches for the first time since June 2024, while they are now winless in their last four World Cup matches, which is their longest run without a victory in the competition's history. 

Ecuador finished with an expected goals (xG) total of 3.05 from their 27 shots, compared to Curacao's 0.48 from their 10 attempts, with Sebastian Beccacece's side knowing they must beat Germany in their final Group E clash to stand any chance of advancing.