Chinese referee Ma Ning and his two colleagues played their first matches at the World Cup on Sunday, and witnessed history with one of the best goalkeeper performances in Curacao’s draw with Ecuador.
Ma was joined at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas by Zhou Fei, assistant referee, and video assistant referee Fu Ming.
The match was the first for a Chinese referee to officiate a World Cup game in 24 years, since Lu Jun played Croatia v Mexico and Poland v United States, in the 2002 tournament jointly organized by Japan and South Korea.
Curacao drew 0-0 with their Group E opponents, earning the first World Cup point in the Caribbean islands’ history, thanks to a superb performance by goalkeeper Eloy Room.
The 37-year-old, whose clean sheet against Jamaica in November sealed Curacao’s place in the tournament, made 15 saves and set a World Cup record for 90 minutes.
With China missing from the tournament, the three, especially Ma, are flying the flag for their country at the World Cup.
