Ecuador vs Curaçao: World Cup Match Report

Ecuador vs Curaçao live

By Henry Hanson

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FT: Ecuador 0 - 0 Curaçao

By Henry Hanson

What an amazing 90 minutes of football.

Scarcely believable scenes in Kansas City.

The smallest nation to ever compete at a World Cup earns a point against South America's second-best team.

It was an inspired, full-team effort from Curaçao - but Eloy Room's heroic in goal will go down in World Cup history.

Truly, a remarkable display from the shot stopper, who finishes with 15 saves, one short of the all-time World Cup record.

90+5' Penalty shout!

By Henry Hanson

Gosh.

This is remarkable.

Ecuador pushes into the box and Jurien Gaari comes very close to bringing down his marker.

The onfield call is no penalty, but it looks touch and go...

The game is paused as VAR combs over the footage.

NO PENALTY!

90+3' Things are getting desperate for Ecuador

By Henry Hanson

And the ball is at the wrong end of the field.

Pacho is forced to clear the ball into touch and Curaçao has a throw in enemy territory.

The attack fizzles out and Ecuador launch forward for surely the last time today.

90+2' Set piece for Ecuador

By Henry Hanson

And Moises Caicedo's freekick is desperately, desperately disappointing.

He floats in a cross to the back post and it evades everyone, fizzling out for a goal kick.

Curaçao breaks forward in response but the final pass is mis hit and out for a goal kick

90' We're into five minutes of stoppage time

By Henry Hanson

89' Ecuador hits the woodwork!

By Henry Hanson

Oh my word, it just won't go in for Ecuador!

Angelo Preciado works in a cross from the right.

He mishits it and it balloons on the crossbar.

Moments later, some desperate defending from Curaçao sees the an Ecuadorian cross deflected behind for a corner.

87' Things getting a little messy at the back for Curaçao

By Henry Hanson

Things are getting stretched for Curaçao as Ecuador pushes forward for a desperately needed goal.

La Tri came into this tournament as one of its dark horses, but have been very disappointing so far in North America.

Curaçao has 11 men behind the ball as Ecuador turn to the bench once more.

It's Jordy Caicedo on in place of John Yeboah.

84' WAS THAT THE CHANCE!? VALENCIA FLUFFS HIS LINES

By Henry Hanson

Enner Valencia is in the penalty area and the ball falls invitingly at his feet after a fortuitous deflection.

He's under pressure from two Curaçao defenders, but it's a wonderful opportunity nonetheless.

Valencia completely miskicks his effort, with the ball rolling harmlessly wide.

80' That's 15 saves now for Room

By Henry Hanson

This one is a confident deflection from a well-hit long-range effort.

Eloy Room bats the ball away and he moves to within one save of the World Cup record.

78' Another save from Room!

By Henry Hanson

That's 14 saves for the match now from Eloy Room.

He's now two from the all-time record of 16, held by American Tim Howard for his efforts against Belgium in 2014.

Room's latest effort is fairly regulation.

Enner Valencia rises in the box and gets good contact with his head, but his effort is straight at the Curaçao goalkeeper.

75' Chance Curaçao!

By Henry Hanson

Curaçao is breaking forward and the Ecuadorian defence is stepping off.

There's plenty of space for Juninho Bacuna to push into.

He eventually lets fly from the edge of the penalty area and his shot takes a big deflection.

The Ecuadorian goalkeeper does well to readjust, stick out a big hand and bat the ball away.

Curaçao makes a triple substitution, with the enterprising Talith Chong, surprisingly, making way.

71' We're back

By Henry Hanson

And Ecuador manager Sebastián Beccacece has turned to his bench for the second time today.

It's forward Nilson Angulo on in place of fullback Pervis Estupinan.

68' ELOY ROOM WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!

By Henry Hanson

Oh my word, this is seriously getting silly now.

Eloy Room is producing one of the best goalkeeping displays in recent memory.

First, he's down to his right to make a good save from a header, deflecting the ball behind for a corner.

From the resulting dead ball, Room makes three (!) saves in quick succession to deny Ecuador once more.

12 saves for the match now for Eloy Room!!!!

And we're off to a hydration break. Yahoo.

61' Curaçao with a string of massive chances!

By Henry Hanson

Woah, straight off the back of that massive Leroy Room save, Curaçao streams forward for their best period of the match.

Leandro Bacuna stings the palms of the Ecuadorian goalkeeper, before Livano Comenencia does the same.

It's a beautiful, flowing counterattack from the World Cup's ultimate underdog.

A massive warning sign for Ecuador.

59' LEROY ROOM YOU STAR!

By Henry Hanson

This is getting a little silly now, Leroy.

The Curaçao goalkeeper makes another massive save, diving to his left after a set piece.

54' Ecuador pushing forward

By Henry Hanson

Juninho Bacuna is booked for a late lunge at Piero Hincapie.

It's a clear yellow and that means both Bacuna brothers are now in the book for Curaçao.

Ecuador works the dead ball into the penalty area but is unable to fashion an effort on target.

Curaçao a threat on the counter

By Henry Hanson

With stats like that it might seem Curaçao is under siege, though I like what I see in their counter attacking. This full speed so I hope they don't run out of puff.

- Big Ben

Morning, Big Ben.

I agree, Curaçao remains a threat on the counter despite its lack of possession.

And Ecuador's defensive organisation hasn't filled me with confidence.

50' Room continues his impressive afternoon

By Henry Hanson

Ecuador is pushing forward and Moises Caicedo finds himself in some space a few metres outside the penalty area.

The Chelsea midfielder lets fly, but he doesn't get all of it.

Eloy Room is quickly down to his right and making a good if somewhat regulation save to continue his impressive afternoon.