valencia vs manchester united

Valencia 0-1 Manchester United
Goals: Javier Hernandez-MAN (85’)
Bookings: Aritz Aduriz-VAL (yellow, 90’ +)

Javier Hernandez opened up his Manchester United scoring account in fine fashion with a spectacular winner in the 85th minute to give Manchester United a crucial 1-0 away win at Valencia in UEFA Champions League Group C play on Wednesday night.

Hernandez’s goal gave United its seventh Champions League victory in the last eight tries and places United atop the Group C standings along with Rangers.

By Scott Hansen

Just minutes after hitting the woodwork from inches away on his first attempt after coming on in the 76th minute for Anderson, the young Mexican international scored on an exquisite left-footed effort off a pass from fellow substitute Federico Macheda.

The first real chance of the game came in the 54th minute when Dimitar Berbatov hit the target on an effort just outside the six-yard box. Berbatov’s attempt opened up the match for both teams.

Valencia was without star man Joaquin, who picked up a thigh injury in training. Over the first quarter of an hour, United managed to squeeze-off the only shot for both teams before Valencia picked up the pace. Pablo and Roberto Soldado failed to test Edwin van der Sar with shots in the 16th and 17th minute. United failed to create another chance for the remainder of the first half.

United superstar Wayne Rooney has been officially ruled out for 2-3 weeks with an ankle injury.

It was the first meeting between the two sides since United drew 1-1 in 2001 at Old Trafford when a Wes Brown own-goal forced United to settle for a draw. Valencia went on to lose in the UEFA Champions League Final that season to Bayern Munich.

Manchester United had an unprecedented run of 16 games unbeaten in the competition, including six straight away wins, end last season with a loss in the quarterfinals against Bayern Munich. Against Spanish sides, United won just one in 18 matches heading into the match with Valencia, a victory over Deportivo La Coruna in 2002.

Rangers downed Bursaspor 1-0 at Ibrox in Glasgow in the other Group C match. With the win and the opening night 0-0 draw at Manchester United, the Scottish champions join United in atop the Group C table.