Champions League: Valencia v Manchester United full time report
Valencia 0 Manchester United 1
Javier Hernandez scored five minutes from time for Manchester United as they grabbed all three points against Valencia at the Mestalla in their Champions League Group C match.
The Mexican striker finished brilliantly with his left-foot after getting onto the end of Federico Macheda’s pass. Hernandez’s first touch took him away from the defender and the second touch resulted in the finish into the back of Valencia ‘keeper Cesar’s net.
It wasn’t the best of games to watch, and the goal was the only bright spark to a very disappointing Champions League game where it was expected to be full of incisive and attacking play.
United are now top of their group with four points, and will feel they are in control of it after a priceless win in Spain.
Valencia are unbeaten and currently top of La Liga with four wins out of five, and having beaten Turkish champions Bursaspor in their opening Champions League game 4-0, they would have been disappointed not to have beaten United tonight.
United on the other hand will be delighted, and manager Sir Alex Ferguson could have been forgiven for thinking it was going to be another 0-0 draw in the Champions League again for his side, just like United’s first match was against Rangers.
The first half was a half to miss, as both sides cancelled each other out and was more like a chess match than a football match.
Roberto Soldado must have gone into the home dressing room at half time thinking how he didn’t put Valencia in front, as he missed an open goal when he got underneath his header when United ‘keeper Edwin van der Sar totally misjudged the flight of the ball.
In-form United striker Dimitar Berbatov was the only player to have conjured up a chance for the away side. His shot from outside the area wasn’t far away from Valencia ‘keeper Cesar’s goal.
Pablo Hernandez three minutes into the second half had a great left-footed effort which just whistled wide of the target as the second half was beginning to look very similar to the first.
A bit of Berbatov magic on 55 minutes nearly put United in the lead, as his control from a long ball and ability to get past the defender resulted in a well-saved shot from Cesar.
As the second half wore on, it looked as though Valencia would find the important goal that would give them the win. Soldado steered a header wide of Van der Sar’s goal from the edge of the penalty area 15 minutes from time, and the Dutch ‘keeper would be called into action again as Valencia substitute Manuel Fernandes had a decent effort from a long-range distance.
Hernandez hit the post after getting onto the end of Nani’s cross for United seven minutes from the end of the game.
Not the best of games, but certainly the best result for United on a night where they didn’t play well at all.
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