Kansas City, Missouri, June 21: Curacao earned their first-ever point at the FIFA World Cup after holding Ecuador to a 0-0 draw in their Group E encounter in Kansas City on Saturday.
The result dealt a setback to Ecuador’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stage, leaving them without a win in their last four World Cup matches and facing a crucial final group fixture against Germany.
Ecuador controlled possession for much of the contest and created several scoring opportunities, but Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room played a key role in preserving the draw.
The South American side threatened early when captain Enner Valencia ran onto a long ball inside the opening minutes, but Room made the save. Curacao created a chance through Sherel Floranus, whose effort went wide.
Ecuador continued to press in the first half as John Yeboah tested Room, while Pedro Vite narrowly missed the target from outside the penalty area. Valencia, Gonzalo Plata and Yeboah also had attempts denied by the Curacao goalkeeper. At the other end, Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez made a routine save to stop Livano Comenencia before the interval.
After the break, Ecuador maintained the pressure with Moises Caicedo attempting from distance and Plata forcing another save. Despite spending long periods defending, Curacao remained a threat on the counterattack.
Galindez produced consecutive saves to deny Leandro Bacuna and Comenencia, keeping the scores level. Room continued to frustrate Ecuador by stopping efforts from Valencia, Kevin Rodriguez and substitute Nilson Angulo, while Piero Hincapie headed over from close range.
In the closing stages, Angulo was again denied by Room, and Angelo Preciado came closest to scoring when his cross struck the crossbar.The draw secured Curacao’s first point and first clean sheet at a FIFA World Cup finals tournament, while Ecuador now face a decisive final group match in their bid to progress to the knockout stage.