Move Over Vozinha, Make Room For Eloy Room | OneFootball

In this World Cup goalkeepers have played an outsized role in shaping their team’s destiny. Anyone following the tournament would know the name Vozinha, the veteran Cape Verde keeper whose seven saves anchored a historic draw against the mighty Spain back in Matchday 1. You can read his story here.

Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Al Owais managed nine in their 1-1 draw against Uruguay, earning his nation a point.

South Africa’s Ronwen Williams notched eleven, but couldn’t save his team. They lost 2-0 to host Mexico in the World Cup opener.

Patrick Beach from Australia, only 22 years old and making his third ever start for the Socceroos, recorded eight saves and a shutout as his country upset Türkiye 2 goals to nil.

But Saturday’s match between Ecuador and Curaçao featured a performance that puts the above to shame, and should launch a new goalkeeping star into the World Cup pantheon.

His name is Eloy Room. In Curaçao’s 0-0 draw, he recorded a whopping 15 saves from Ecuador’s 27 total shots.

Tim Howard still holds the overall World Cup record with 16 saves in a match (2014, against Belgium in a Round of 16 knockout tie). But that game went into extra time. Eloy Room set a World Cup record for a regulation 90 minute match, yet crucially also gave the smallest nation to ever qualify a critical point heading into the final matchday.

Who Is Eloy Room?

Eloy Room will be an unfamiliar name to most. He currently plies his skills with Miami FC in the USL Championship, the second division of U.S. soccer. He joined them after a six month stint without a club after he was released from Cercle Brugge in July last year.

Room was born in Nijmegen, Netherlands in 1989. He started his professional career with Vitesse, but had spells with Go Ahead Eagles and PSV in the Dutch leagues. From 2019-2023 he played with Columbus Crew in MLS, where he earned 28 clean sheets in 102 games.

Through his father, he was eligible for the Curaçao national team, and he made his debut with them in 2015. Tonight was his 72nd cap, and along with Leandro Bacuna, he is the longest serving player for the Blue Wave.

In addition to his save record, Room becomes the first Curaçaoan to be named a FIFA Man of the Match in a World Cup fixture.