All posts tagged: knockout stage

Ecuador stun Germany 2-1 to reach World Cup knockouts for first time since 2006

Ecuador stun Germany 2-1 to reach World Cup knockouts for first time since 2006

Published by Webster

Germany arrived at MetLife Stadium having already topped Group E. Ecuador arrived needing a win or an early flight home. That much was clear before kickoff. What followed was less predictable. It was only the second time in five World Cup appearances that Ecuador have reached the knockout rounds. The first was 2006. The three tournaments in between — 2002, 2014, 2022 — all ended in the group stage. This one nearly did too. The loss to Ivory Coast was a gut punch. Curacao was the one that truly stung. Fifteen attempts on goal, each denied by Eloy Room. No team had registered that many shots without scoring at a World Cup since 1966. They went into the Germany game having spent 242 minutes at this tournament without a goal. ALSO READ | World Cup third-place standings: Which teams will qualify for Round of 32 Then Florian Wirtz found Leroy Sane in the box two minutes in. Sane’s left foot, misfiring for much of this tournament, found its mark. His first World Cup goal. Manuel …

15 saves in 90 minutes! Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room sets World Cup record

15 saves in 90 minutes! Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room sets World Cup record

Published by Webster

2 min readJun 21, 2026 08:18 AM IST Just days after Curacao’s horrific initiation with a 1-7 drubbing at the hands of Germany in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the smallest country to ever qualify for the quadrennial tournament redeemed themselves through their goalkeeper, Eloy Room. The 37-year-old brickwall as at the heart of Curacao’s inspired second Group E appearance in a goalless draw against Ecuador at the Kansas City Stadium on Saturday night. The Netherlands-born goalkeeper remained unflinching as Ecuador launched an avalanche of attempts at the target and a whopping 27 shots in all, taking away a World Cup record in only his second appearance for the most shots saved in regulation time. Room’s display also marked the second-highest ever saves in a World Cup appearance by a goalkeeper in the record books. ALSO READ | Deniz Undav: From machine operator at factory to Germany’s World Cup hero Saving 15 shots through the night, the Miami FC goalkeeper’s performance handed Curacao their first World Cup point in only their second appearance in the …

Host Morocco and South Africa join Egypt in Africa Cup knockout stage. Mohamed Salah gets a rest

Host Morocco and South Africa join Egypt in Africa Cup knockout stage. Mohamed Salah gets a rest

Published by Parlour News

Morocco made sure of its place in the last 16 with a 3-0 rout of Zambia. The hosts topped Group A to stay on course for having all its knockout games in Rabat’s near 70,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, which will also stage the final on Jan. 18. This time there were only cheers, after Morocco fans had whistled the team during its previous game, prompting a rebuke from team captain Achraf Hakimi on Sunday. Ayoub El Kaabi headed the opener in the ninth minute, Brahim Díaz swept the second inside the left post in the 27th, and El Kaabi made sure of the win in the 50th with a spectacular bicycle kick – his second of the tournament. An offside flag added to the drama as the goal was ruled out and then allowed after a VAR check confirmed El Kaabi was onside, setting off more joyous celebrations among the vast majority of fans in the stadium. They had further reason to cheer when Hakimi went on as a substitute in the 64th for …

Dubov after beating Praggnanandhaa in tiebreaks

Dubov after beating Praggnanandhaa in tiebreaks

Published by Webster

Daniel Dubov delivered a sharp on-air remark after eliminating R Praggnanandhaa from the FIDE World Cup 2025, saying, “Preparing for two classical games against Pragg took me 10 minutes on my phone. I did not even use my laptop.” Dubov defeated Praggnanandhaa 2.5–1.5 in the tiebreaks, ending the Indian Grandmaster’s campaign in the fifth round. After a short 12-move draw in the opening rapid game, Praggnanandhaa pushed for a win with the white pieces but was outplayed in an aggressive attacking sequence, losing in 53 moves. While Pragg bowed out, Arjun Erigaisi and P Harikrishna kept India’s challenge alive by advancing to the pre-quarterfinals. Arjun and Harikrishna through after strong tiebreak wins Arjun Erigaisi produced another commanding display, defeating GM Peter Leko in both rapid games to secure a 3–1 aggregate win. Playing with black first, Arjun punished Leko’s miscalculated pawn sacrifice in 40 moves. In the second rapid game, he kept his composure as the Hungarian searched desperately for complications, sealing victory in 57 moves. “I am very happy. The tiebreak went well. The …