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By CHRIS WHEELER from Valencia
Splendid strike: Javier Hernandez fires home United's late winnerNo Rooney, no problem. Valencia's Pablo Hernandez may have provided the magic in the Mestalla last night but it was his namesake, Javier, who supplied the only touch that really mattered to give Manchester United a vital Champions League win in Spain.
The young Mexican they call Chicharito, or the Little Pea, struck his first competitive goal since a £7million summer move from Chivas five minutes from time after coming on as a substitute for Anderson.
Sweet Pea! Manchester United striker Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez's red-letter day
It was a clinical finish and a reminder to United fans, some of whom were involved with minor skirmishes with Valencia supporters and riot police around this old stadium, that the temporary loss of Wayne Rooney might not be as bad as it seems.
After all, the England striker has failed to score in open play since March. Hernandez took just eight minutes.
He had already gone closest to a goal for Sir Alex Ferguson's side, sliding in at the back post to turn Nani's cross against the woodwork, when the Portuguese winger fed United's other substitute Federico Macheda. The Italian played it into Valencia's box and Hernandez took one touch before drilling his shot past keeper Cesar from 12 yards.It brought a wild celebration from Sir Alex Ferguson and his staff, who knew they were fortunate after a disjointed display which reflected the number of changes he made for this second Group C game.
With the injured Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes all at home in Manchester, Ferguson had to reshuffle. As expected, he brought back fitagain Rio Ferdinand to play alongside his old partner Nemanja Vidic for the first time this season and shore up a defence that had leaked 11 goals in seven games.
But the selection of Rafael Da Silva at right back represented something of a gamble.
The Brazilian had started only two games since his sending-off in the Champions League quarter-final last season turned the tie in Bayern Munich's favour and United crashed out of the competition.
It raised concerns over the wisdom of playing Rafael in big games at this early stage of his career after he was shown up by AC Milan's Ronaldinho at the San Siro in February, a month after he had needlessly given away a penalty which allowed Manchester City back into the Carling Cup semi-final.
With Michael Carrick and Anderson returning to central midfield after injury, United were decidedly short on match practice - and it showed.
Special moment: Javier Hernandez celebrates after scoring United's late winnerAs Valencia's Hernandez pulled the strings with some quite wonderful football, the home team displayed the kind of football that has taken them to the top of the table in Spain despite having to sell stars David Villa and David Silva to help clear debts of £400m.
Vidic had to be on his toes to dispossess Hernandez as he threatened to go clear and Darren Fletcher was lucky when he turned back towards goal under pressure from the Spaniard, and lost out to him as they chased along the touchline.
Referee Viktor Kassai spotted the Scot tugging at his opponent's shirt and Tino Costa swung his free-kick wide of Edwin van der Sar's far post.
Valencia were getting closer, Hernandez then firing over from 25 yards after he had been gifted the ball by another Carrick error, and they would have gone ahead but for an amazing miss in the 16th minute. Alejandro Dominguez sent over a searching cross, Van der Sar came out to claim but missed it completely and his lapse seemed to surprise Roberto Soldado who headed the ball over an empty goal. No wonder the striker held his head in his hands as the Mestalla cried out in anguish.
Battle: Darren Fletcher battles for the ball with Pablo HernandezUnited's best effort before halftime was also a spectacular one. Lively Dimitar Berbatov picked the ball up midway inside the Valencia half and beat three players before curling a shot narrowly wide of Cesar's left-hand post.
And the United striker created a great chance for the visitors with another flash of brilliance midway through the second half.
Taking down a 40-yard pass from Fletcher with one elegant touch, the Bulgarian's trickery left David Navarro on his backside as he surged into the area. But Cesar sensed the danger and was quickly off his line to block as Berbatov tried to slip the ball past him.
But Ferguson's side were coming under increasing pressure, with Hernandez once again leading the charge. He teased Patrice Evra before cutting inside to send a leftfoot effort beyond the diving Van der Sar and just wide of the Dutch goalkeeper's far post.
On the run: Dimitar Bebratov keeps the ball away from Valencia's Miguel BritoThen Valencia had claims for a penalty turned down when Vidic challenged Soldado on the edge of the box, but referee Kassai agreed with angry United players that the striker had made a meal of it. However, Soldado almost scored when his glancing header went close before substitute Manuel Fernandes forced Van der Sar into a flying save from 30 yards.
United's defence was verging on the desperate: a last-ditch tackle from Vidic, a vital interception by Ferdinand as he slid back towards his own goal, and a stooping header from Rafael cleared the danger as Valencia pressed.
Despite that disappointing draw at home to Rangers in the Group C opener, Ferguson would surely have taken another point.
United came away with a goalless draw on their last two visits to the Mestalla almost a decade ago, and another last night looked like being the most fortuitous of the lot.
But up stepped Little Pea, the Mexican hit-man who held his nerve when it really mattered to end the stand-off and give United their second-ever win over Spanish opposition on their own soil.
It was a finish worthy of Rooney himself.
Thumbs up from the boss: Sir Alex Ferguson saw his United side claim a crucial winsource: dailymail [endtext]