Chinese referee Ma Ning and two of his compatriots made their first appearances at the World Cup on Sunday, and where witnesses to history and one of the great displays of goalkeeping in Curacao’s goalless draw with Ecuador.

Ma was joined at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas by Zhou Fei, the assistant referee, and video assistant referee Fu Ming.

The match marked the first time a referee from China had taken charge of a World Cup game in 24 years, since Lu Jun officiated Croatia v Mexico and Poland v the United States, at the 2002 tournament co-hosted by Japan and South Korea.

Curacao battled to a 0-0 draw with their Group E opponents, earning a first World Cup point in the Caribbean island’s history, thanks largely to an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Eloy Room.

The 37-year-old, whose clean sheet against Jamaica in November sealed Curacao’s place in the tournament, made 15 saves that set a record for a 90-minute World Cup match.

With China notably absent from the tournament, the trio, especially Ma, are flying the flag for their country at the World Cup.