Uefa Under-17 Championship / Rep of Ireland 2 Italy 2: Terry Dixon made another telling contribution with a late equaliser to leave Ireland on the verge of making it into the second phase of the Uefa Championship qualifiers in Kiev yesterday.

With Ireland trailing 2-1 with 11 minutes to go, Dixon timed his run through onto Graham Carey's pass. The finish was clinical as his low shot arrowed into the bottom corner past the dive of Riccardo Delfino.

Ireland took a deserved lead on 32 minutes. Donal McDermott's 60-yard diagonal pass was perfect for the run of Cillian Sheridan and the striker shot past Defino.

Ireland conceded an equaliser from a set-piece within five minutes, however. Cristian Pasquato's delivery was excellent and captain Massimiliano Tagliani outjumped Garry Breen to head past Paul Skinner.

Italy went in front from a counter-attack on 63 minutes. Michael Marconi worked the ball through to Pasquato who beat Skinner with a low drive.

But Ireland showed character to hit back with Dixon, who won the late penalty against Ukraine in the 2-1 win on Tuesday, again playing a pivotal role.

Ireland and Italy now have four points each while Ukraine, who beat Latvia 1-0 yesterday, have three. A draw against the Latvians, who are out having lost their games, at the Bannikov Stadium tomorrow will see Ireland through.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Skinner (Celtic); Callaghan (Millwall), Donoghue (Sunderland), Breen (Manchester City), Fitzgerald (West Ham United); Cahillane (Celtic), Carey (Celtic), Lawless (Cherry Orchard), McDermott (Manchester City); Sheridan (Belvedere) Lyons (Crystal Palace). Subs: Dixon (Tottenham Hotspur) for Sheridan (33 mins), Byrne (Belvedere) for Lyons (58 mins), Lawless (Cherry Orchard) for Daly (80 mins.).

ITALY: Delfino; Cafiero, Tuia, Tagliani, Pambianchi; Triarico, Loiodice, Palumbo, Bolzoni; Pasquato, Maritato. Subs: Mignano and Viola for Pambianchi and Loiodice (both at half-time), Marconi for Maritato (55 mins).

Referee: M Aydogan (Turkey).