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KIEV – Fredy Guarin gave an interview to Inter Channel after the Nerazzurri’s Europa League victory over Dnipro at Kiev’s National Stadium.

The first question was naturally about taking over the captaincy duties this evening. The Colombia midfielder glowed: “It’s a source of great pride and joy for me. I feel proud because I’ve always said how much Inter means to me. I really enjoyed wearing the captain’s armband tonight but I enjoyed the winning the game with this group of lads even more.”

On how Inter went about the match: “We were smart enough not to concede a goal or get caught out by their counter-attacks. We tried to play our game and bide our time waiting for the right opening to make the breakthrough. We might have scored two or three but the main thing is we got the three points and kept a clean sheet. It was a pretty intense game – for me and for the team. We tried to stay on top of things and I think we managed to do that.”

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KIEV – Walter Mazzarri declared that he was satisfied with how a much-changed Nerazzurri side fared against Dnipro in Kiev this evening.

Speaking to journalists after the game, the coach enthused: “We played a really good game today. We afforded very few opportunities to some tough opponents. I can say I’m happy, although we needed to stay a bit more switched on towards the end. Now we’ll move on to Palermo.”

Though pleased with the result, Mazzarri admitted there was some regret at not having made more of the opportunities: “We carved out a string of chances throughout the match. We should have stuck away a few more in the second half and put the game to bed.”

Dnipro were perhaps at their most dangerous in the early stages of the game. The Inter boss said: “We knew they’d come racing out the blocks and wouldn’t give us an inch of space. We set out to play in a certain way. Several of our lads were making their European debuts tonight while for others it was their first full game. We settled into the match and grew in stature as it wore on.”

So was this an important win? “Yes, it’s very important. No one will find it easy to come here and turn them over – they’re doing very well in the league.”

The coach then concluded by lauding Inter’s strength in depth. “I’m happy with our performance also considering that we changed a lot of things around today. It shows you what a strong squad we have here.”

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KIEV – Inter got their Europa League group stage campaign off to a solid start after a narrow 0-1 win against Dnipro tonight. After an evenly-matched first half, Danilo D’Ambrosio broke the deadlock in the 71st minute, showing great control in a crowded penalty box to slot the ball home. Minutes beforehand, the Dnipro captain, Ruslan Rotan, had been dismissed for a second bookable offence after a clumsy challenge on Guarin.

The match marked the beginning of the Nerazzurri’s Europa League adventure proper. The game was played in Kiev, a neutral ground, as a result of the continued political unrest in the region. This was the same city in which Inter kick-started their dream of winning an historic triple, producing a magnificent comeback against Dynamo to put them top of their Champions League group.  

Inter lined up with Handanovic between the sticks, behind a back three of Campagnaro, Vidic and Juan Jesus. D’Ambrosio and Dodo played as wingbacks, with M’Vila anchoring a midfield trio completed by Kuzmanovic and Hernanes. Guarin was deployed in the hole, whilst Icardi led the line.

There was a measured start to the game, with Inter dominating possession and searching for the breakthrough via a number of dangerous free kicks. The match was played out largely in the Dnipro half, with the Ukrainians rarely managing to break out of their defensive lines. One such foray was ended when Kuzmanovic brought down talented midfielder Konoplyanka, earning the Inter man a yellow card from the referee.

Kuzmanovic was again involved on 36 minutes, rising to meet a dangerous cross from D’Ambrosio only for the ball to finish on the roof on the Ukrainians’ net. Despite the first half ending goalless, Inter could take heart from having bossed the match and would be forgiven for feeling aggrieved after a handball from Mazuch in the penalty area went unnoticed.

The second half started exactly where the first left off, with Inter in total control and Dnipro looking to catch the Italians on the break. On 54 minutes, D’Ambrosio had a great chance to put the Nerazzurri in front, stealing into the Ukrainians’ box and catching the defence off guard. However, Boyko, the Dnipro goalkeeper, had other ideas, pulling off splendid saves first from D’Ambrosio and immediately afterwards from the lurking Icardi.

Minutes later, Konoplyanka looked to beat Handanovic with a curling shot that whistled past the goalkeeper’s left post. Mazzarri rolled the dice, bringing on Osvaldo for Kuzmanovic as the Nerazzurri went in search of the win.

Dnipro were reduced to ten men when Rotan brought Guarin down, earning him a second yellow card and an early bath. It proved to be the turning point of the match, with the winner coming soon afterwards in the 71st minute.

The impressive D’Ambrosio gathered a pass from Guarin, bursting into the area and showing great close control before poking the ball past Boyko and into the net. It was a goal that reflected the Nerazzurri’s superiority over the 90 minutes, and was no less than they deserved.

Jonathan was the other sub used, brought on for Hernanes in the 77th minute. Inter saw out the remainder of the match comfortably, and after just three minutes’ stoppage time, victory was confirmed. The Nerazzurri go top of the group, thanks to a goalless draw between Qarabag and St. Etienne.

It was important to kick on from the weekend’s thrashing of Sassuolo, and Walter Mazzarri’s side managed to do exactly that against a team that, until tonight, had won ten out of their last twelve home matches, drawing the other two.

The next European engagement for Inter comes on 2 October at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, against the Azerbaijani outfit Qarabag. Until then, the Nerazzurri must put all their efforts into building on their impressive start to the Serie A campaign.

Dnipro 0-1 Inter (HT 0-0)

Scorer: D’Ambrosio, 71

Inter: 1 Handanovic; 14 Campagnaro, 15 Vidic, 5 Juan Jesus; 33 D’Ambrosio, 88 Hernanes (Jonathan, 77), 90 M’Vila, 17 Kuzmanovic  (Osvaldo 62), 22 Dodò; 13 Guarin; 9 Icardi.

Unused subs: 30 Carrizo, 6 Andreolli, 8 Palacio, 20 Obi, 23 Ranocchia.
Coach: Walter Mazzarri.

Dnipro: 71 Boyko; 44 Fedetskiy, 23 Douglas, 3 Mazuch, 17 Strinic; 20 Bruno Gama, 7 Kankava, 29 Rotan, 4 Kravchenko (Shakhov, 67, Luchkevych, 74); 10 Konoplyanka; 18 Zozulya (Kalinic, 79).

Unused subs: 9 Kalinic, 14 Cheberyachko, 16 Lastuvka, 24 Luchkevych, 28 Shakhov, 89 Politylo.
Coach: Myron Markevych.

Referee: Felix Zwayer.
Assistant referees: Henschel, Achmuller.
Additional assistants: Dankert, Siebert.
Fourth official: Willenborg.

Booked: Strinic, Rotan, Zozulya, Kuzmanovic, Strinic.
Sent off: Rotan.

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KIEV – Tonight’s matchwinner Danilo D’Ambrosio shared his thoughts with reporters just moments after the final whistle against against Dnipro in Kiev. Pleased with the three points, with his own showing and the team’s.

“It was really important for us to come here and put in a big performance,” the wing-back began. “We were keen to prove that our display against Sassuolo wasn’t just a flash in the pan. We’re happy with how it went.”

Quizzed about his match-winning strike, the Italian replied: “Perhaps it is the most important goal of my career so far. I had another great chance but the keeper pulled off that stop. We have to put this one behind us now: from tomorrow all our thoughts will be on Palermo.”

D’Ambrosio then concluded by commenting on his overall performance: “I always try to give everything I’ve got, no matter what competition we’re playing in. I feel a sense of pride because my goal brought Inter the three points. We knew it was a tough game and we’re happy with the result.”

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