Iniesta struck 11 minutes from time as Spain, who looked set to be thwarted by a brilliant display from visiting goalkeeper Arni Gautur Arason, made it back-to-back wins in their home Euro 2008 qualifying double-header.

Iceland had the first effort of the match when Emil Hallfredsson fired a shot across the face of Iker Casillas' goal, but after that it was pretty much all Spain as Luis Aragones' side looked to build on Saturday's 2-1 win over Denmark.

David Silva twice brought saves out of Arason while David Villa clipped the top of the crossbar with a vicious swerving effort from out wide, although it looked more of an attempted cross than a shot.

Arason then made two brilliant one-handed saves in the run-up to half-time to keep Iceland on level terms, first to keep out a mis-cued clearance from team-mate Olafur Orn Bjarnason and then tip away a deflected Villa effort.

To add injury to insult, Spain also lost Fernando Morientes to a knock during the first of those two attacks, with the veteran Valencia striker being stretchered off to be replaced by Fernando Torres.

Spain came flying out of the blocks at the start of the second half, with Torres having claims for a penalty after going to ground in the area, before Villa drew another fine stop out of the impressive Arason.

Villa then put a free header wide from five yards out in the 49th minute as Spain laid siege to the visiting goal.

Spain substitute Miguel Angel Angulo and Iniesta brought further saves out of Arason with long-range efforts.

It was all one-way traffic in the second half, and Spain finally made the breakthrough they deserved through Iniesta in the 79th minute.

Just moments after Silva had seen a goal disallowed for the hosts, Villa slipped Iniesta through on the left of the area and the Barcelona midfielder drilled his shot inside the near post for the winning goal.