4 Lessons from Curaçao's Inspiring World Cup Draw Against Ecuador
Ecuador and Curaçao drew in a World Cup game where Ecuador dominated possession and shots but failed to score, raising concerns about their offensive capabilities.
Ecuador had 3.08 expected goals and Curaçao had goalkeeper Eloy Room. That was the summary of the game. In a crucial Group E duel held in Kansas City on Saturday, Ecuador and Curaçao were 0-0, a result that does not match the superiority of the Ecuadorian team. With almost 30 shots and 75% of ball possession, La Tri left the field with just one point. Now, both teams have one point and their chances of advancing are hanging by a thread. Check out the lessons we learned from this match: 1. Ecuador Forgot the Main Objective of Football (Photo by Maja Hitij - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) With 3.08 expected goals and fifteen shots on goal, Ecuador failed to score. They were relentless in every aspect except the most important: finishing. In defense, they were practically unshakable, allowing just 0.48 xG to Curaçao. However, in front of goal, the situation was comical. Five big chances were missed; the post was hit and the attackers missed clear opportunities. The highlight was Enner Valencia. At 36 years old, he is still the main striker, but he failed twice with clear chances. He is the team's top scorer at the World Cup with six goals, but bowing doesn't guarantee the ball will go in. Coach Sebastián Beccacece needs to ask himself if it is time to give another player in the attacking position a chance. 2. The World of Eloy Room (And Vozinha) (Photo by Hakan Akgun/Anadolu via Getty Images) First, Vozinha had an incredible performance against Spain. Now, Eloy Room made 15 saves against Ecuador. Fifteen. A week after conceding seven goals from Germany, Curaçao's goalkeeper had the performance of the tournament — diving, deflecting, and reading Ecuador's attacks as if he already had the script. He finished one save less than Tim Howard's all-time record, who made 16 saves against Belgium in 2014, but needed extra time to do so. Room worked his magic in just 90 minutes, against a team that had 75% possession and shot from all sides. A country in its first World Cup, ranked outside the top 80, a week after a 7-1 defeat. This is stuff for statues. 3. Beccacece's Structure is Excellent, But His Attack Needs a Solution (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images) Ecuador is in its second game and has yet to score. This isn't just bad luck; it is a structural flaw. The defensive structure is really top-notch. Moisés Caicedo, from Chelsea, dominated the midfield, controlling the pace and neutralizing everything Curaçao tried. Behind him, Willian Pacho (PSG) and Piero Hincapié (Arsenal) form one of the best young defender duos in the tournament, as shown by their xG of 0.48 against. The problem is up front. Beccacece fielded strikers Gonzalo Plata, John Yeboah, Nilson Angulo and Kevin Rodríguez, but none managed to score. The substitutions were bold, but the performance left something to be desired. He built a team that controls World Cup games, now he needs to find one that can win. 4. Group E Got Tight Germany has already qualified. The rest are under pressure. Die Mannschaft beat Ivory Coast 2-1, securing their place in the next stage before the final round. Now, three teams are fighting for a place: Ivory Coast with three points, Ecuador and Curaçao tied with one, separated onlyby Curaçao's goal difference, a gift from Germany. The draw didn't help anyone who was in the dispute. Ecuador needed three points and a turnaround in goal difference; they didn't achieve either of them and now they will have to beat Germany, already qualified in the last round. Curaçao kept the dream alive, but still needs to beat Ivory Coast and hope that the calculations in favor of third place work out. Two small teams, a heroic point and a tight group that still believes. Just don't ask Ecuador to score.
---
Related Articles
1. [Curaçao erleidet hohe Niederlage gegen Deutschland](https://mannschaftgoal.com/de/news/curacao-erleidet-hohe-niederlage-gegen-deutschland) 2. [Japan, wagi kontra Tunisia sa World Cup 2026 group stage, 4-0](https://azkalsgoal.com/fil/news/japan-wagi-kontra-tunisia-sa-world-cup-2026-group-stage-4-0)