Super-sub Hernandez helps United sink Valencia

Javier Hernandez scores an 85th-minute winner to give Manchester United a 1-0 win.

VALENCIA: Javier Hernandez scored an 85th-minute winner to give Manchester United a 1-0 win over Valencia in Wednesday’s Champions League at the Mestalla Stadium.

Mexican international Hernandez had only been on the pitch nine minutes but had an immediate impact, scoring United’s first European goal of the new season as they won in Spain for the first time since 2002.

“We improved in the second half. We kept the ball better and the substitutes combined really well,” said United defender Rio Ferdinand. “Hernandez is a great lad. He comes into training early every day. He wants to learn and he wants to get into the team.”

Barca frustrated at Rubin Kazan

Spanish giants Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw by Russian champions Rubin Kazan. Both goals came from the penalty spot, with Ecuadorian midfielder Christian Noboa giving Rubin the lead in the first half and David Villa equalising on the hour mark.

“We got a very important point tonight,” said Villa. “We missed a lot of chances and the Rubin goalkeeper played very well, but finally we managed to level.”

Bastos comes up trumps again for Lyon

Lyon left their dismal home form behind them to register a 3-1 win at Hapoel Tel Aviv, giving the misfiring French giants maximum points from their first two Champions League outings.

Lyon raced into a seventh-minute lead when referee Howard Webb awarded them a penalty. Michel Bastos converted the spot-kick, sending Hapoel goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama the wrong way before the 27-year-old winger took his Champions League tally this campaign to three in the 35th minute.

Hapoel got a deserved consolation goal after some spirited attacking but Miralem Pjanic produced Lyon’s third of the night in injury time.

Inter thump hapless Bremen

Champions Inter Milan thumped hapless Werder Bremen 4-0 at the San Siro. Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o scored a brilliant hat-trick, taking his tally to 11 goals in nine games this season, and Holland playmaker Wesley Sneijder added the fourth as the Germans’ defence offered their hosts a plethora of gifts.

Late strikes seal Schalke’s win

Schalke 04 strikers Jefferson Farfan and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar hit second-half goals to seal a 2-0 win over Benfica to give their side their first Champions League points. Neither the Bundesliga hosts nor their Portuguese guests were impressive in front of the posts with just two goals to show for their efforts despite a string of shots on goal for both sides.

Naismith ends Rangers wait for Champions win

A Steven Naismith strike sent Rangers joint top of Group C as they defeated Bursapor 1-0 at Ibrox. The Scotland striker showed predatory instincts in the 18th minute when scored the only goal of the match where the Old Firm side were rarely troubled.  The win ended a three year wait for a Champions League win for the Scottish champions.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2010.