KANSAS CITY, MO — couldn’t discover the important thing to unlock and on .
in Group E motion in Kansas Metropolis. Room, Curaçao’s goalkeeper, was excellent. He rose to the event main the Blue Wave to its first level in World Cup historical past because the smallest nation to ever qualify for the match.
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“It’s unbelievable,” Room mentioned. “I couldn’t do it alone. I did it with my staff and with my defenders. I’m glad that I did my job.”
, essentially the most saves in historical past for a recreation ending in regulation.
keeper nonetheless holds the file with 16 saves, which got here in opposition to in 2014. Howard’s large outing completed in additional time. He ended with 12 saves in regulation throughout that recreation.
“Just a little bit aggravated that I didn’t take the file from Tim Howard,” Room mentioned. “I believe he was sweating in entrance of the TV as a result of I used to be shut.”
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Photographs reveal unforgettable World Cup motion and emotion
US ahead #20 Folarin Balogun (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his staff’s third aim throughout the 2026 World Cup Group D soccer match between USA and Paraguay on the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026.
(PATRICK T. FALLON, AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
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Photographs reveal unforgettable World Cup motion and emotion
US ahead #20 Folarin Balogun (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his staff’s third aim throughout the 2026 World Cup Group D soccer match between USA and Paraguay on the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026.
(PATRICK T. FALLON, AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
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Photographs reveal unforgettable World Cup motion and emotion
Folarin Balogun #20 of the USA scores his staff’s third aim throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles.
(Richard Heathcote, Getty Photographs)
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Photographs reveal unforgettable World Cup motion and emotion
Cesar Samudio #12 of Panama fails to avoid wasting a shot from Giovanni Reyna #7 of the USA as he scores his staff’s fourth aim throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles.
(Jamie Squire, Getty Photographs)
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Photographs reveal unforgettable World Cup motion and emotion
US midfielder #07 Giovanni Reyna (R) scores his staff’s fourth aim throughout the 2026 World Cup Group D soccer match between USA and Paraguay on the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026.
(VALERIE MACON, AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
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Photographs reveal unforgettable World Cup motion and emotion
US gamers rejoice the fourth aim by midfielder #07 Giovanni Reyna throughout the 2026 World Cup Group D soccer match between USA and Paraguay on the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026.
(VALERIE MACON, AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
Room was known as into motion early and infrequently in opposition to Ecuador, who had been thought of large favorites. Within the third minute, Ecuador delivered an extended ball excessive which settled to striker .
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Valencia went one-on-one with Room. He drilled a shot on his proper foot from 12 yards away and Room made the low diving save to thwart Ecuador, who’ve but to attain within the World Cup.
It was Room’s favourite save of the night time, easy as a result of he can’t bear in mind the opposite 14 saves.
“A very powerful save was the primary one as a result of that set the tone for the remainder of the sport,” Room mentioned. “All the different saves, I don’t even bear in mind.”
Curacao didn’t defend for his or her lives for all the recreation. They loved passages of play that had them dreaming for all three factors.
The Blue Wave’s greatest likelihood got here within the sixtieth minute. hit a shot from outdoors the field, which pressured Ecuador keeper Hernán Galindez right into a diving save.
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After the save, the ball was recycled to the highest of the field. fired a low shot, which was additionally saved by Galindez. Curacao ended the sport with 10 complete pictures with three of them on aim.
It’s an unlikely efficiency from Curacao, which within the opening match. Curacao coach Dick Advocaat defined that the primary recreation may need come too early for the staff.
“We see as soon as once more that Germany was a terrific staff. That day, they had been out of our league,” Advocaat mentioned. “The staff was standing, the best way they need to’ve been standing. They had been preventing like lions with excessive particular person ranges of play.”
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It’s one other outstanding night time of World Cup motion inside Kansas Metropolis’s stadium. On followers had been handled to from ’s . In , Messi tied the file for many objectives ever scored in World Cup historical past.
Within the Curaçao match, Room stood tall, making save after save and offering pleasure for all of the followers from the island nation.
“It’s good to be considered with Messi,” Room laughed. “I don’t know what it’s. I’ve by no means performed on this stadium, but it surely felt good to me. That is going to be my favourite stadium now.”
Publish match, Curacao’s staff was handled to a heat welcome within the locker room.
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King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima danced and celebrated with the Blue Wave.
“To see how the king, spouse and daughter match into the group,” Advocaat mentioned. “It evokes lots of respect. They smiled and so they danced. You may see them radiating with pleasure.”
Room’s efficiency was legendary for Curacao. His 15 saves will go down in World Cup historical past. It was such a formidable recreation that it was match sufficient for Queen Máxima to plant a kiss on the person of the match.
“I hope my spouse didn’t hear,” Room smiled.
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