Dynamic Dnipro overcome Napoli

FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk are sitting pretty with maximum points at the top of UEFA Europa League Group F after a deserved 3-1 victory against SSC Napoli.

Artem Fedetskiy gave the hosts the perfect start with a goal in the second minute, and Matheus doubled the Ukrainian side's lead just before the break. Giuliano then made the result safe in the 64th minute, rendering Edinson Cavani's penalty with a quarter of an hour remaining nothing more than a consolation.

Dnipro's fourth successive European win rarely looked in doubt from the moment Fedetskiy hooked the hosts in front, profiting from the Partenopei's failure to clear Ruslan Rotan's inswinging free-kick.

Walter Mazzarri's men attempted a response through Lorenzo Insigne, who fired over, before left-back Ivan Strinić flashed a shot wide at the other end as the Napoli defence backtracked. Yevhen Seleznyov was the next to chance his arm for the hosts with an acrobatic half-volley from Rotan's corner.

Rotan's deliveries were proving a thorn in the side of the Napoli defence. Three minutes before the break, another free-kick from the Dnipro captain led to the second goal as Fedetskiy helped a partially cleared set piece back into the area, where Seleznyov flicked it on. Matheus, appearing second favourite, beat goalkeeper Antonio Rosati to the loose ball.

Mazzarri sent on the cavalry in the shape of Goran Pandev and Cavani early in the second half, changes which threatened to pay dividends as the latter headed a Salvatore Aronica cross against the upright.

No sooner had Napoli hopes been raised than they were quashed by Giuliano, who swivelled to turn the ball beyond Rosati after his initial effort, from Matheus' cross, had been kept out by the goalkeeper. Cavani reduced the visitors' arrears from the spot, having been felled by Ondřej Mazuch, but it was too little too late for the Serie A club.