St Etienne 0-0 Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk

St Etienne and Dnipro played out a goalless draw in Europa League Group F, with the hosts on top but their Ukrainian opponents missing a first-half penalty.Stephane Ruffier foiled Nikola Kalinic from 12 yards, but a masterclass from rival goalkeeper Denys Boyko ensured a share of the spoils and Dnipro's first point in the competition, having lost to Inter Milan two weeks ago.The Italians top the group on six points, with ASSE second after back-to-back stalemates.Boyko saved Ricky van Wolfswinkel's early effort and then was more severely tested in parrying away Max Gradel's rasping drive.Renaud Cohade was next to be denied, his powerful header straight at Boyko, before the French side's early surge blew itself out.Brazilian defender Douglas was off target at the other end before Kalinic won and missed the 28th-minute spot-kick. The Croatian striker was hauled down by Loic Perrin, who was booked, but he saw his low penalty turned around the right-hand post by keeper Ruffier.St Etienne pushed forward again and from Gradel's free-kick, Perrin's shot was blocked before Francois Clerc's powerful follow-up was saved by Boyko.Gradel's corners provided the remainder of the first half's chances, with Perrin heading over and Cohade wide before Clerc tested Boyko.The second period started with Les Verts again on the attack, Boyko saving brilliantly from Kevin Monnet-Paquet's close-range effort.Kalinic drew a save from Ruffier at the other end, but the striker was soon replaced by Yevhen Konoplyanka.Van Wolfswinkel missed from close range and Gradel dragged a shot wide, either side of Ruffier holding Serhiy Kravchenko's 20-yard shot.Perrin headed another Gradel free-kick over before the Ivorian winger went for goal directly and drew another excellent save from Boyko.A rare mistake from Boyko, when he fumbled Franck Tabanou's weak shot around the post, went unpunished as Benjamin Corgnet headed Gradel's corner wide, and the last chance disappeared with a similar miss by Moustapha Bayal Sall. ends