The 30-year-old international, who had not played since injuring both ankles in Italy's 1-1 draw with Serbia and Montenegro on September 10, flicked home Kily Gonzalez's free-kick to ensure maximum points and take the Italians to the top of Group B.

Daniele Adani gave Inter the lead before Sergiy Federov equalised for the Ukrainians.

It was the first goal Inter have conceded all season, having kept four clean sheets in Serie A and one in their opening Champions League win at Arsenal last week.

Vieri had been sidelined for three weeks with a calf injury he picked up playing for Italy against Serbia and Montenegro earlier this month, but coach Hector Cuper decided to start with the big striker on the bench against the Ukrainians.

"I spoke to the doctor on Monday night and he told me that he thought Vieri could play some part in the game. I asked Vieri and he said he was ready to play so I decided to include him in the squad," said Cuper.

"During the game I saw him warming up and I could see that he wanted to come on. Bobo is fundamental for us as you could see," said the Argentine.

Vieri said he was desperate to feature in the game and was delighted with his goal.

"I am really pleased with that," said the Inter striker, "I so wanted to play and I spoke with the gaffer and told him I would like to at least be on the bench. I am happy with the fact that I scored but above all that we are improving game by game."

Inter took a 23rd-minute lead through Daniele Adani, but the Ukrainians drew level 11 minutes later when Serhiy Fyodorov took advantage of a mistake by Inter keeper Francesco Toldo.

Vieri's glancing header from a Kily Gonzalez free kick gave the Italians a maximum six points from two games following their impressive 3-0 win away to Arsenal a fortnight ago.

But Cuper admitted that his side never really produced the kind of football they showed at Highbury.

"I think we played more with our heart and we lacked a bit in our approach play. But the lads worked a lot and in the end we got the win," he said.

Cuper was thankful for the three points which put Inter on six points, three clear of Kiev and five clear of Lokomotiv Moscow and Arsenal.

"We have a good advantage in the group, but we can't afford to go to sleep," said the Argentinian, who took Valencia to two Champions League finals, both of which they lost.

Nigerian teenager Obafemi Martins started in place of Vieri alongside Julio Cruz, a summer signing from Bologna.

Javier Zanetti almost gave Inter a dream start in the fourth minute, but after barging his way into the box with a robust run he shot into the side netting from 12 yards.

Kiev went even closer eight minutes later. Fabio Cannavaro misjudged Diogo Rincon's flicked header and allowed Maksim Shatskikh to fly past him, but the Uzbek striker shot wide from an acute angle.

The visitors' near miss stung Inter into life and they took the lead through an unlikely source in the 23rd minute.

Cannavaro met Gonzalez's free-kick with a firm header which Oleksandr Shovkovsyi could only palm away and Adani was on hand to poke home the rebound from close range.

But Inter's joy was short-lived as goalkeeper Toldo, making his 100th appearance for the Milan club, gifted the Ukrainians an equaliser 11 minutes before half-time.

Tiberiu Ghioane's driven left-wing cross was spilled by the Inter goalkeeper and Fyodorov followed up to level the scores.

Near misses by Gonzalez and Cruz only fuelled the home crowd's frustration and Cuper was forced to bring Vieri on just before the hour mark.

Inter laid Kiev's goal under siege but the visitors held firm until the 89th minute when the home side were awarded a free-kick just outside the box.

Gonzalez floated the ball over and Vieri shook off his marker to plant the ball wide of Shvkovskyi's outstretched hand to the delight of the San Siro crowd.