Roman Zozulya 's first-half strike edged Dnipro to a crucial win against Dutch champions Ajax at the Kiev Olympic Stadium . Having squandered a series of early chances the hosts took the lead on the half hour mark when Zozulya collected Yevhen Konoplyanka ’ s cut back to send a left-footed strike across Jasper Cillessen and into the net . Dnipro , playing in their first ever last 16 tie in the Europa League , kept Frank De Boer ’ s side relatively quiet and head to Amsterdam next week in a promising position . Dnipro players celebrate Roman Zozulya 's opening strike , which proved to be the winner in Ukraine . DNIPRO ( 4-4-2 ) : Boyko ; Fedetskiy , Douglas , Cheberyachko , Egidio ; Fedorchuk , Rotan , Zozulya , Bezus ( Gama 57 ) ; Konoplyanka ( Shakhov 81 ) , Seleznyov ( Kalinic 75 ) Subs not used : Lastuvka , Luchkevych , Svatok , Blyznychenko . Scorer : Zozulya 30 . Booked : Fedetskiy , Rotan , Zozulya , Shakhov . AJAX ( 4-3-3 ) : Cillessen ; van Rhijn , Veltman , Viergever , Boilesen ; Bazoer , Klaassen , Serero ( Sinkgraven 59 ) ; El Ghazi , Milik ( Zivkovic 76 ) , Schone ( Kishna 60 ) Subs not used : Moisander , van der Hoorn , Andersen , Boer . Booked : Boilesen , Bazoer . Referee : Ivan Bebek . Ajax were hoping to maintain a seven game unbeaten run in all competitions but struggled to break down the dogged hosts . The first chance went the way of the visitors after just four minutes as midfielder Thulani Serero attempted to chip keeper Denys Boyko but that was a rare moment of progress for Ajax . However in first-half stoppage time Joel Veltman spurned a glorious chance to level the contest when standing all alone at the back post , but the centre-back blasted a volley way over the bar from a few yards out . De Boer ’ s side improved after the break but failed to register a single shot on target and will have to improve drastically for the second leg in Amsterdam next Thursday . It was n't all good news for the hosts as Artem Fedetskiy , Ruslan Rotan and Roman Zozulya all picked up booking to rule themselves out of the second leg in Holland . Ajax manager Frank De Boer fails to hide his frustration as the Dutch side failed to find an away goal . Ajax 's Joel Veltman ( left ) challenges for the ball against Yevhen Konoplyanka of Dnipro on Thursday . Yevhen Seleznyov ( left ) of Dnipro vies for the ball with Nick Viergever ( right ) of Ajax in Ukraine . Dnipro 's Artem Fedetskiy ( left ) fights for the ball with Ajax 's Arkadiusz Milik during the Europa League clash . Dnipro 's Nikola Kalinic ( left ) fights for the ball with Ajax 's Davy Klaassen during the Europa League match .
Ukranian forward Roman Zozulya fired hosts ahead after half an hour . Three of the Dnipro starting XI pick up bookings ruling them out of 2nd leg . Ajax host the Ukrainian side on March 19 next Thursday in Amsterdam .