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Italy scrape through with draw

Saviour del Piero heads Italy level

OITA, Japan, (CNN) -- Substitute Alessandro del Piero dived in to head Italy into the next round thanks to a 1-1 draw with Mexico on a night of high drama.

The striker stole in at the back post six minutes from time after Italy had been staring at their second defeat in a row.

The draw means Mexico win Group G with Italy second. Croatia, semifinalists at France 98, blew their chance by slipping up 1-0 to Ecuador. (Match report)

Del Piero's goal from substitute Vincenzo Montella's cross brought relief across Italy after it had looked like they were following France and Argentina to an inglorious early exit.

Italy dominated possession in Oita but lacked the killer touch -- then conceded a goal to a fine 34th minute flick header by Mexico striker Jared Borgetti.

It was a high-class goal that followed a neat passing move and the finish left Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon rooted on his line.

Borgetti, centre, is mobbed after putting Mexico ahead

At that stage Italy were heading out while Mexico proved that their opening two victories were no flukes.

Italy were also struck again by the curse of the disallowed goal. After having two strikes ruled out in the shock 2-1 defeat to Croatia, they were once more cursing the officials as Filippo Inzaghi slotted home after 14 minutes -- only to be ruled offside.

And the flag went up again in the second half after Montella lobbed the goalkeeper.

They were also guilty of wasting chances. Francesco Totti dragged a shot wide from 10 metres after Inzaghi set him up unmarked.

As Italy further increased the tempo after half-time, Inzaghi bore down on goal but Perez palmed if off his foot then Montella fired high over the bar.

But Italy also looked shaky at the back and Fabio Cannavaro had to hack the ball off the line.

Italy Gianluigi Buffon; Christian Panucci, Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini; Gianluca Zambrotta, Damiano Tommasi, Cristiano Zanetti; Francesco Totti; Filippo Inzaghi, Christian Vieri

Mexico Oscar Perez; Manuel Vidrio, Rafael Marquez, Salvador Carmona; Ramon Morales, Gerardo Torrado, Johan Rodriguez, Braulio Luna, Jesus Arellano; Jared Borgetti, Cuauhtemoc Blanco

Referee Carlos Simon (Brazil)