Shane Long came off the bench to rescue the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2016 qualification campaign with a priceless last-gasp equaliser against Poland.
The Group D leaders looked to be heading for victory in Dublin courtesy of midfielder Slawomir Peszko’s first-half strike.
But Long, an 83rd-minute replacement for midfielder Glenn Whelan, stabbed home from close range in the first minute of stoppage time to snatch a point and keep Ireland’s hopes of making it to France alive.
Record goalscorer Robbie Keane had come desperately close to levelling with 18 minutes left when he met James McClean’s searching cross with a firm downward header, only to see the ball rebound off the same post.
McClean was the provider once again seven minutes from time when he drilled the ball across goal, but neither Jonathan Walters nor Keane were able to get a meaningful touch and Seamus Coleman sliced his drive wastefully wide.
Republic boss Martin O’Neill sacrificed holding midfielder Whelan to send on striker Long as time ran down, and the move paid dividends in injury time when Wes Hoolahan’s header fell for him to stab a shot past Lukasz Fabianski to snatch a point.
“It could be a massive point at the end of the campaign,” said Long.
“I think we need to be wining our home games, we need make it a fortress, but the main thing is not to lose. We will take the draw.”