Robbie Keane kept the Republic of Ireland's WC dreams alive with a equaliser to hold 10-man Italy to a 1-1 draw in Bari.

The Tottenham striker stabbed home an 87th-minute shot at the San Nicola Stadium to claim a point which keeps Ireland within touching distance of the Italians at the top of Group Eight.

It also ensured manager Giovanni Trapattoni a share of the spoils against his home country and the man who replaced him as national boss, Marcello Lippi.

The reigning champions had taken an 11th-minute lead through Vincenzo Iaquinta despite having had striker Giampaolo Pazzini sent off with only three minutes gone.

Meanwhile, third-placed Bulgaria overcame the absence of star striker Dimitar Berbatov and reignited their hopes of reaching South Africa with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Cyprus in Sofia to claim their first pool victory.

An early goal from Ivelin Popov and a second in stoppage time from Dimitar Makriev took the hosts to seven points in the group in a game from which Cyprus will feel they deserved more.

Also in Group Eight tonight, Georgia and Montenegro both remain winless after battling out an uninspiring goalless draw in Tbilisi.