Arturo Vidal (right) celebrates with teammates Edin Džeko (left) and Lautaro Martínez (middle) after scoring their side's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group D football match between Inter Milan and Sheriff Tiraspol on October 19, 2021 at San Siro in Milan, Italy. 

MILAN - Inter ended a three-game run without a home goal in the Champions League as they secured an important 3-1 victory over Sheriff on Tuesday.

With just one point from their opening two matches of 2021-22 and only one victory from their past nine games in the competition, the pressure was on the Nerazzuri to deliver at San Siro.

Edin Džeko broke the deadlock 34 minutes in, but Sébastien Thill, who scored a stunning winner against Real Madrid on matchday two, drew Sheriff level early in the second half.

Inter responded well, though, Džeko setting up Arturo Vidal to restore their lead and Stefan de Vrij adding a third to make certain of three points.

Džeko had failed to beat Dumitru Celeadnic from a simpler position in the middle of the box earlier in the first half, making his breakthrough goal all the more impressive.

After Vidal flicked on Federico Dimarco's corner, Džeko arrowed a controlled left-footed volley into the top-right corner through a crowded penalty area.

Sheriff had offered a threat despite leaving Samir Handanović relatively untested, and few neutrals would have begrudged them their equaliser, Thill curling home a superb free-kick from more than 25 yards out.

Inter's response was exemplary, though. Only six minutes later, Vidal controlled Džeko's pass and slotted beneath Celeadnic at his right-hand post, and Denzel Dumfries spurned a chance for a third soon afterwards.

Compatriot De Vrij showed more precision, though, firing home a low finish on the turn from Dumfries' header back across goal.

It could have been a more one-sided scoreline by the end, Ivan Perišić crashing a shot off the crossbar and Lautaro Martínez seeing a volley tipped over by Celeadnic.