Hernandez hands United victory over Valencia

Valencia 0 Manchester United 1. Javier Hernandez's goal five minutes from time earned Manchester United three vital away points in their Champions League clash with Valenica. United arrived in Spain shorn of their star names – Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney all out injured - but it was the 22-year-old Mexican – nicknamed 'Chicharito' [the Little Pea] who  scored only eight minutes after coming on as a substitute. Combining with another sub, Federico Macheda, in the 85th minute, Hernandez coolly slotted the ball past Valencia keeper Cesar Sanchez for the only goal of a scrappy match.

"When he took his chance it was like he was shelling peas," said United boss Alex Ferguson later, trading on Hernandez's nickname. "It was so natural to him. He's a natural finisher and he showed that tonight."

Hernandez, who arrived at Old Trafford in the summer on a £7m transfer from Mexican side Chivas Guadalajara, was delighted to have come to his side's rescue against the current leaders of La Liga. "I'm so happy about the goal. I always used to watch the Champions League when I was back home in Mexico," said Hernandez, adding: "It's one of the most important tournaments in the world so I was always keeping up with it. It's a dream come true for me, but the result is the biggest thing for us."

United's win puts them level on points with Rangers (who beat Bursaspor 1-0 in Glasgow) at the top of Group C, and it was a result few would have forecast at the interval after a first-half in which Valencia missed several chances to go in front. With the visitors fielding a defence that included both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic for the first time this season and Michael Carrick in midfield after four weeks absence, Valencia dominated for long spells of the first period. How Roberto Soldado managed to miss an open goal with a free header after Alejandro Dominguez's cross had eluded Edwin Van der Sar is a mystery, while Pablo Hernandez shaved a United post with a stinging shot.

But the longer the game went on the more composed the United defence became, though the English side showed few signs that they would be the side to bring to an end Valencia's 11-match unbeaten home run in European competition. Dimitar Berbatov, struggling manfully on his own up front, had his first glimpse of goal on 56 minutes, but Sanchez was on his toes to deny the Bulgarian his eighth goal of the season.

Then Ferguson made two substitutions in quick succession, replacing Oliveira Anderson with Hernandez on 77 minutes and bringing on Italian striker Macheda for Berbatov eight minutes later. Macheda's first touch was to tee up the little Mexican for his goal, a strike that puts United firmly in control with their next fixture, the visit to Old Trafford of Turkish minnows Bursaspor in three weeks. ·