UEFA Champions League FT Report: Man Utd snatch late win against Valencia at the Mestalla
Starting XI for Manchester United: Van Der Sar, Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Nani, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Park, Berbatov
Subs: Kuszczak, Smalling, O’Shea, Gibson, Macheda, Owen, Hernandez
Starting XI For Valencia: Sanchez, Monteiro, Navarro, Maduro, Mathieu, Hernandez, Costa, Albelda, Mata, Dominguez, Soldado
Subs: Moya, Saltor, Topal, Aduriz, Feghouli, Fernandez, Costa
The first half of this big club encounter didn’t prove to be an entertaining one. There were no shots on target and the closest Valencia went to scoring a goal was an offside shot superbly saved by Edwin Van Der Sar.
However, the match really kicked off in the second half. United looked more composed and impulsive in their attack and managed to push back the hosts to their own half. Wave after wave of attacks was denied by the brave Valencia
defenders. The hosts managed to attack as well on the counter and created a lot of trouble for Van Der Sar. Yet United stood their ground on most occasions and English skipper Rio Ferdinand provided United with the much needed composure they’ve lacked so far
in the English Premier League.
Having already drawn all of their away fixtures so far, United aimed to register only their second win on Spanish soil. Valencia defeated United the last time the Manchester club visited and went on to reach the final. Yet, it
was United’s turn to have the last laugh as a single goal from new signing Javier Hernandez proved too much for the opposition. The player came on as a substitute for the Red Devils to replace the returning Anderson, who had a good evening back among the ranks.
Chicharito did brilliantly in his first 10 minutes for the club and was frustrated when he hit the post in his first attack. However, moments later, fellow substitute Federico Macheda found Hernandez in the centre of the penalty box. Hernandez went in and
managed to calmly finish the chance to register his first Champions league goal. The 23 year old Mexican couldn’t keep his emotions in check and kissed the badge on his jersey to mark the start of a new era.
Valencia tried to come back following the goal but it was too little to late. They did manage to trouble the goal keeper but it was not their night as United registered their second win on Spanish soil. The fastest player of the
World Cup would be delighted to find the net the second time this season and his return to form couldn’t have come at a better time. With Rooney, Giggs and Scholes out for 2 weeks minimum, it would be up to the substitutes bench to try and fill the gap left
by those mammoths of the game. That is exactly what they did as the youngster Macheda and Hernandez combined well to score the winner.
Sir Alex Ferguson would be delighted by the result they managed against the current La Liga table toppers, and would want the side to play with the same knick in their weekend clash against Sunderland. Sunderland have created a
lot of problems this season as they currently host one of the most lethal attacks in the league. The Stadium of Light has been favourable to United though and it may now be time for them to register their first away win of the premier league.
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