Sportivo Villa Cubas and Américo Tesorieri drew 0-0 at the Provincial Bicentenario stadium in the first leg of their Central Region quarter-final in the Torneo Regional Federal Amateur. The Catamarca derby contained intensity, contact and frequent interruptions but lacked the accuracy needed to move the score. The tie remains entirely open and carries all of its tension into the second match.
Villa Cubas tried to take the initiative through Matías Valle, Facundo Orellana, Santiago Sánchez and Axel Chaile in midfield, while Juan Cruz Herrera and Luciano Bazán sought depth. Juan José Pauletto’s team struggled to pass through a closed defence and ended up depending on crosses, rebounds and set pieces. Possession did not become sustained control inside the penalty area.
Marcelo Vega’s Tesorieri responded with a structure designed to close space and accelerate after regaining the ball. Its clearest opportunity came in the second half: Enzo Mercado Rusch completed a counterattack, went past goalkeeper Matías Draghi and sent his shot into the side netting. The action captured the visitor’s plan and showed how close the Alemán came to taking a decisive lead.
The León also produced chances. A Santiago Sánchez corner was cleared and the rebound returned to the midfielder, whose effort passed close. Later, a cross from the left caused Carlos Camargo to direct an almost-own-goal header that goalkeeper Julián Espeche tipped over. In one of the final actions, Bazán received inside the area but dragged his finish wide.
Referee Andrés Agüero managed a match in which fouls and yellow cards occupied a central role. Physical play prevented continuity and forced both teams to contest every second ball. The 0-0 was not the product of a total absence of attempts, but of effective defending, rushed decisions and friction that reduced the time available to construct moves.
The return now has a confirmed venue and time: Tesorieri host Villa Cubas on Sunday, November 15, from 4.30pm at their own ground. Confirmation ended consideration of the Malvinas Argentinas and Bicentenario alternatives. The winner advances to the Central Region semi-finals to face either Central Argentino de La Banda or Unión Lugones.
Mercado Rusch became associated with the clearest chance, but no protagonist took possession of the tie. Tesorieri will have home advantage; Villa Cubas arrive knowing they protected a clean sheet and created danger. The first match provided mutual knowledge without a numerical edge. In the second, every space becomes more expensive because there will be no further return leg in which to repair what remains unresolved.
