Spain looked to be heading for a 1-0 defeat until substitute Iniesta slotted home an equaliser four minutes from time to ensure the spoils were shared at a rain-soaked Laugardalsvollur Stadium in Reykjavik.

Some may consider it two points dropped against the nation that are second-bottom of Group F, but having played for 70 minutes with a man less following Xabi Alonso's red card, Iniesta would prefer to look at the plusses.

"We must look at the positive part of the result," said the Barcelona midfielder, who admitted it was no surprise that Spain found it tough to break down a hard-working Iceland side once the visitors had gone a man and a goal down.

"This is inevitable. In this type of game these things usually happen," he added.

"If you score first, it is a different story, but now what we need to think is that we have been able to get a draw."

Iniesta's goal followed on from his late winner against Iceland in March's game in Mallorca, and the diminutive midfielder is hoping to further add to his tally in Wednesday's home encounter with Latvia.

"I am eager to do well and to help Spain to be in the European Championship, which is our great objective. I hope to continue helping and to score another on Wednesday," he said.

With Group F leaders Sweden being held to a draw by Denmark and second-placed Northern Ireland suffering a surprise defeat at Latvia, Spain's draw was not too damaging.

However, coach Luis Aragones had mixed feelings after seeing his side, who had won their six previous matches, held by Iceland.

"We are better off than before the game but worse than I had hoped," said the veteran coach, whose team are three points behind Sweden and level on 16 points with the Irish.

"Every time that I don't win it feels like a setback, but football is like that and the feeling is not so bad this time.

"We have started out (against Iceland) by playing the type of football which we should not have been doing.

"It was a very fast pitch and we committed some serious errors. The first half we played badly. In the second we have wanted to get back into the game but it was very difficult with 10 players."

Aragones' Icelandic counterpart, Eyjolfur Sverrisson, was also disappointed not to end up with more after seeing his side lead through Emil Hallfredsson's 40th-minute header until the last few moments.

However, Sverrisson still took great pride in the result and praised his side for their performance.

"We played well, with great defence. We closed down the wings and we did not leave any space for the Spanish players. As well as that we had some very good counter-attacks and a good end product," the Iceland coach said.

"We went 1-0 up and we withdrew in the second half, but it was not a good idea, because Spain attacked more.

"The result is fantastic, but in the end I am disappointed because we could have gained a victory against a fantastic team, who we did not allow to play."

Iceland, who now have five points from eight games, have another home match on Wednesday, when they welcome Northern Ireland to Reykjavik.