Central Córdoba claimed a narrow 1-0 win over Lanús on Thursday in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana Round of 16, played at the Estadio Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero.

Gastón Verón scored the decisive goal in the 58th minute. The second leg will be played next Thursday at the Estadio Ciudad de Lanús Néstor Díaz Pérez.

The match began at a high tempo, with the visitors threatening first. From a free-kick routine, Rodrigo Castillo set up Dylan Aquino, whose powerful strike forced a sharp save from goalkeeper Alan Aguerre.

Central Córdoba replied through Lucas Besozzi, who felt contact from Carlos Izquierdoz inside the box, but the referee waved play on due to a prior offside.

In the second half, Lanús again came out strong, pinning the hosts back. A move down the left ended with Aquino firing just wide. Minutes later, the home side’s best chance came from a long-range effort by Iván Gómez, saved by Nahuel Losada.

The breakthrough arrived in the 58th minute when José Florentín delivered a corner from the left that Verón controlled before finishing with composure.

Lanús tried to respond quickly, with Aquino heading over the bar and his teammates appealing for a penalty after Jonathan Galván was seen holding Castillo’s shirt — an appeal dismissed by referee Kevin Ortega.

Central Córdoba had two counterattacking opportunities to extend their lead, the best falling to Matías Perelló, who shot just wide.

Lanús came close to leveling in the final minutes — first through an Eduardo Salvio free kick, then from a Castillo pass to Salvio, whose shot sailed over the bar.

The return leg in Lanús will decide the tie, but before that, Central Córdoba host Barracas Central and Lanús visit Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata in the fifth round of the Torneo Clausura.