Valencia earns United victory

Valencia: Debut to remember

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Manchester United defeated Boca Juniors 2-1 in Munich to reach the Audi Cup final as Antonio Valencia scored on his debut.

The Ecuadorian winger joined the Red Devils from Wigan this summer and he marked his first appearance with a goal after Anderson had opened the scoring with a sensational free-kick.

Federico Insua pulled a goal back in the 55th minute for Boca, but United progressed to the final where they will meet AC Milan or hosts Bayern Munich.

Ferguson named Federico Macheda and Wayne Rooney in his attack with Valencia making his debut on the right wing.

Much of the attention was on the ex-Latics star, who is earmarked to fill the void left by the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.

His first few touches exhibited a touch of nerves and it was Boca who made the more confident start to the game, with Juan Roman Riquelme playing an intricate one-two with Insua before his shot was deflected wide of the post.

Limelight

The sale of Ronaldo has not only provided Valencia with the opportunity to take his career onto the next level, but Anderson showed he too could benefit from a bit more of the limelight this season.

He curled an unstoppable free-kick from outside the right-hand corner of the penalty area into the far corner of Roberto Abbondanzieri's goal for his first goal for the Red Devils.

Valencia's early nerves had evaporated as he started to find his rhythm and it was not long before he opened his account for his new club.

He received the ball centrally from Rooney and, with a dip of the shoulder, he skipped past two Boca defenders before taking aim and releasing a shot from the edge of the area which squirmed under Abbondanzieri's body.

Boca emerged for the second half five minutes later than United, but they entered the field with a renewed determination.

Substitute Christian Chavez's curling shot tested Tomaz Kuszczak for the first time in the 52nd minute before Insua brought Alfio Basile's side back into the tie.

He volleyed in Gary Medel's right-wing cross as Boca began to stamp their authority on the game, but they could not find an equaliser.