Augusto struck in the 77th minute, finishing Henrikh Mkhitaryan's pass to settle a difficult contest. Inter had been reduced to ten players in the 68th minute when Bastoni received a second yellow card, leaving Cristian Chivu's side to protect their advantage against a Shakhtar team that pushed hard for an equaliser.
The result was particularly important after Inter Milan's defeats against Real Madrid and Club Brugge in their opening two league-phase fixtures. Augusto said the performance demonstrated the team's determination to recover their European campaign.
“It was a very difficult match, but an important one to show everyone that we want to win. We knew how to suffer, especially when we were down to ten men, and this was a great victory to help us continue the season in the best possible way,” the Brazilian said.
He acknowledged Shakhtar's ability to retain possession but believed Inter made the most of the spaces that emerged after the dismissal.
“They are a good team and pass the ball well, but when we were down to ten men, they became impatient to score and we took advantage of the counter-attack. We have to continue like this,” Augusto added.
The goalscorer also reflected on his own form, describing his current spell as one of his best since joining Inter three years ago. Although he recognises that goals and assists attract attention, he insisted that helping the team win remains his priority.
“Over these three years I have always given my maximum, but clearly goals and assists are the first things people remember. I always want to do my best to help my team win,” he said.
Manuel Akanji shared his satisfaction with the response after Bastoni's red card, although he questioned the circumstances surrounding the defender's first booking.
“I am very perplexed by Bastoni's first yellow card. After the sending-off, it was a great display of strength. We want to keep moving forward and doing things the right way,” the Swiss defender said.
Akanji also acknowledged that Shakhtar had approached the match differently from what Inter expected, requiring the home side to remain alert.
“We were attentive,” he said.
Augusto's decisive finish and Inter's defensive effort ultimately delivered three points that could prove important in their bid to reach the Champions League knockout stages.