Ireland stunned the world champions in Bari last night when Keane snatched an 87th-minute equaliser to ensure the race for top spot in Group Eight is still alive.

Marcello Lippi's men remain two points clear of the Republic, who bounced back from their failure to beat Bulgaria at Croke Park on Saturday to deny the Italians a five-point lead.

Indeed, Keane's side could leapfrog the 2006 winners with a win in Bulgaria on June 6 with Italy not in action again until they make the trip to Georgia in September.

Last night's goal hero is taking nothing for granted with the Bulgarians belatedly mounting a charge for second place, but he knows the Irish have a fighting chance of claiming automatic qualification at the expense of one of world football's aristocrats.

He said: "We are still hanging in there. We still have Italy to play at home and we still have some tough games away as well - but Italy do as well.

"It is still hanging in the balance."

Asked if Ireland could still win the group, Keane replied: "Of course we can."

Giovanni Trapattoni's troops had arrived in Bari on Monday evening still licking their wounds after Kevin Kilbane's late own goal had robbed them of the victory they craved over Bulgaria.

For so long at the San Nicola Stadium last night, it looked as if they would leave empty-handed despite the home side suffering the blow of having striker Giampaolo Pazzini harshly sent off with just three minutes gone.

It was they who took an 11th-minute lead when Vincenzo Iaquinta made the most of Fabio Grosso's inch-perfect cross to beat Shay Given from close range.

Even down to 10 men, the Italians were dominating, and the wily Trapattoni needed all his experience to come up with a solution.

With just 22 minutes gone, off went the unfortunate Andy Keogh, who had been asked to replace the injured Aiden McGeady on the right wing, and on went striker Caleb Folan as Keane was asked to play in the hole behind the frontmen.

The changes did not end there with Darron Gibson and Noel Hunt being introduced after the break in place of Keith Andrews and Kevin Doyle.

It was all a little unexpected and out of character for a manager who, despite his insistence to the contrary, has not been one to tinker too much with his Ireland team.

But when push came to shove, it worked, and when Keane stabbed the ball past keeper Gianluigi Buffon with just three minutes remaining, it was scarcely more than the visitors deserved.

Indeed, as the previously imperious Fabio Cannavaro and Giorgio Chiellini wilted, the Republic might have snatched victory at the death in a rousing finish, and the Italians left the pitch to a less than appreciative reception from their own fans.

Midfielder Stephen Hunt said: "We played well. Especially in the second half, we controlled the game and in the end we could have snatched it and it is disappointing we didn't.

"It's great, magnificent. It's a point and we are unbeaten in the group.

"Saturday was disappointing - everyone was disappointed, we are not stupid.

"But we move on into Bulgaria and look to get a result and keep going."

That said, Hunt may not be the best judge of Ireland's performance, or at least the earlier part of it, because he later admitted he did not remember much of it.

The Reading winger took a first-minute Andrea Pirlo free-kick full in the face and was still feeling the effects at the break.

Hunt said: "I didn't remember the first half - I didn't even know they had scored.

"I got concussed in the first minute and I didn't know where I was until half-time.

"I was hit in the head from a Pirlo free-kick and I didn't even remember them scoring.

"I can't remember much of the game, to be honest with you. I know Robbie scored, obviously, and that was pleasing."