Villa Mitre secured a 1-0 victory over Douglas Haig of Pergamino at El Fortín stadium in the opening leg of the Federal A Reválida tournament’s round of 16, as reported by La Nueva. Santos Bacigalupe scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the second half, while goalkeeper Juan Pablo Mazza stopped a first-half penalty to preserve the clean sheet for Diego Cochas’s side.

Penalty Drama Shapes the First Leg in El Fortín

The match turned on two penalty decisions awarded by referee Jonathan Correa. reported that the official pointed to the spot in the 40th minute of the first half after ruling that Bacigalupe committed a foul against Schlotthauer. Douglas Haig forward Jonathan Palacio stepped up, but Mazza blocked the low, central shot with his legs after leaning to his left.

Villa Mitre broke the deadlock in the 30th minute of the second half through a second penalty awarded by Correa, who penalized Magnago for pushing Monti inside the area. Bacigalupe converted with a driven left-footed shot into the corner as visiting goalkeeper Ratalín moved toward the opposite post. Villa Mitre defeated Douglas Haig to take a narrow edge heading into the return leg in Pergamino, though Douglas Haig holds sporting advantage in the series.

Goalkeepers Deliver Standout Performances Under Pressure

Both defensive units relied heavily on their starting goalkeepers during an intense encounter that featured numerous scoring chances and fluctuating momentum. Mazza registered critical saves, including denying Palacio and blocking an effort from Páez during the match. At the other end, Ratalín kept Douglas Haig competitive by turning away a late chance from substitute Santi Gómez.

The visitors pressed for an equalizer late in the game, forcing Villa Mitre to defend deep. Almada anchored the backline as the home side weathered sustained pressure and sought to exploit spaces on counter-attacks.

Series Context and Upcoming Return Leg in Pergamino

Villa Mitre advances in the Reválida bracket following a previous victory over Costa Brava de General Pico, where Ibarra scored twice in a 2-0 win, according to BHInfo. The team must now travel to Pergamino next weekend for the return leg. Because Douglas Haig finished higher in the initial standings, the Pergamino club holds sporting advantage, meaning a draw on aggregate will be sufficient for them to advance, as detailed by the sources.