FIFA World Cup
The 37-year-old shot-stopper made 15 saves in the Group E match against Ecuador on Saturday to keep alive Curacao's hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.
His tally is the most on record - since 1966 - by any goalkeeper in a FIFA World Cup match that did not feature extra-time.
His tally is the most on record - since 1966 - by any goalkeeper in a FIFA World Cup match that did not feature extra-time.
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Curacao celebrated their 0-0 draw in Kansas City wildly - days after a chastening 7-1 defeat against Germany on their FIFA World Cup debut.
"It means everything," said Room. "It feels like a victory, you know, for us. But now it means a lot. It's the first point in the World Cup for us.
"So it's unreal if you know the journey where we come from and we're now here. And today we showed we have real heart with the team. So it's an unbelievable feeling."
"It means everything," said Room. "It feels like a victory, you know, for us. But now it means a lot. It's the first point in the World Cup for us.
"So it's unreal if you know the journey where we come from and we're now here. And today we showed we have real heart with the team. So it's an unbelievable feeling."
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The Miami FC goalkeeper joked that he was disappointed to miss out on former US goalkeeper Tim Howard's record of 16 saves noted by FIFA in a match against Belgium at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil that went to extra-time.
"I think he was sweating at home, you know, looking at the game," he said. "But I heard it was also another record from really long ago. So yeah, I'm proud of that."
Room praised his teammates but cheekily suggested his achievement should be set in stone.
"I'm really proud of the team also, because again, we did it with the team," he said. "I make the saves, but we fought as a team, also the players who came in but I think I need a statue in Curacao, I think now."
"I think he was sweating at home, you know, looking at the game," he said. "But I heard it was also another record from really long ago. So yeah, I'm proud of that."
Room praised his teammates but cheekily suggested his achievement should be set in stone.
"I'm really proud of the team also, because again, we did it with the team," he said. "I make the saves, but we fought as a team, also the players who came in but I think I need a statue in Curacao, I think now."
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Room produced a stunning save in the opening minutes, denying Ecuador captain Enner Valencia when the forward seemed certain to score.
After that he produced save after save, constantly thwarting the South Americans, who are ranked more than 50 places higher by FIFA.
"I think the most important save was the first one, because that set the tone of the game," he said.
"And if the ball went in, it was a difficult game. So I think that was one of the best saves, but all the other saves, I don't even remember how they were so I had to look them back afterwards."
Netherlands-born Room started his career in the nation of his birth, spending time at Vitesse, Go Ahead Eagles and PSV Eindhoven.
Source: AFP
After that he produced save after save, constantly thwarting the South Americans, who are ranked more than 50 places higher by FIFA.
"I think the most important save was the first one, because that set the tone of the game," he said.
"And if the ball went in, it was a difficult game. So I think that was one of the best saves, but all the other saves, I don't even remember how they were so I had to look them back afterwards."
Netherlands-born Room started his career in the nation of his birth, spending time at Vitesse, Go Ahead Eagles and PSV Eindhoven.
Source: AFP
