Gimnasia Chivilcoy and Sportivo Belgrano played out a goalless draw in the Winners Stage of the Torneo Federal A on Saturday evening. The match ended 0:0 at the home ground as neither side could find the breakthrough despite several chances. By then, the tension had built through a series of cautions and a late dismissal.
The yellow cards came thick and fast from the opening stages. A booking at 21 minutes set the tone, followed by another at 38 before half-time. When the second half began, the home side saw a card at 47 and the visitors responded at 50. The game grew scrappier as the minutes passed, with a second yellow for the visitors at 72.
And here's the thing about the red card — J. Caviglia was sent off at 86 minutes, but it did not change the scoreline. Sportivo had already struggled to test the goalkeeper, registering zero shots on target throughout the match. Gimnasia managed six shots on target but could not convert any of them.
To be fair, the statistics tell a story of missed opportunities more than dominance. The home side held 57 per cent possession and recorded 66 attacks compared to 69 from the visitors. Yet nine corners for Gimnasia against four for Sportivo did not translate into goals. The shots off target — four for the hosts, two for the visitors — suggest shots went astray.
The result moves Gimnasia further clear in fourth place with 11 points from six games. Sportivo remain eighth with five points after seven matches, still searching for consistency. They have drawn three of their last five matches, including this one.
What stands out is not the score but the character of the match. A red card with ten minutes remaining should have opened the game, yet both sides held firm. The history between them adds an edge, and neither side wanted to lose ground.