The World champions were outnumbered for almost the entire game after striker Giampaolo Pazzini received a straight red card only four minutes after the kick-off.

Vincenzo Iaquinta earned Italy an early lead when he struck on 12 minutes, but Marcelo Lippi's men were denied by Robbie Keane, who hit a last-gasp leveler.

The Azzurri are still at the top of Group 8 with 14 points, two ahead of Ireland who lie second.

Elsewhere, Spain came from behind to beat Turkey 2-1 in a pulsating Group 4 clash.

Turkey's Semih Senturk opened the scoring on 26 minutes, but after the restart the European champions got the upper hand.

Spain overturned the one-goal deficit when Xabi Alonso netted the equalizer three minutes after the hour mark, and then Albert Riera scored in the dying minutes.

Vicente Del Bosque's side are on 18 points, six clear on top, while Turkey lie third with eight points.

In another qualifier, Wales boldly put on a struggle but failed to prevent Germany from extending their lead at the top of Group 4 with a 2-0 win at the Millennium Stadium.

Chelsea star Michael Ballack lashed clinically as early as the 11th minute to give the three-time world champions the lead, and Wales' Ashley Williams wrongly poked into his own net right after the interval.

Now leaders Germany are on 16 points, while six-placed Wales have only six points.