Gianluigi Buffon saved a late penalty from Adrian Mutu to keep World Cup champions Italy in the European Championship with a 1-1 draw against Romania yesterday.

Daniel Niculae was dragged down by Christian Panucci in the 80th minute, and a penalty was awarded. Buffon dived to his left and reached back with his hand to stop Mutu's shot, and the ball then deflected away off the goalkeeper's leg.

Mutu, who plays for Fiorentina, gave Romania the lead in the 55th minute following a defensive mistake by Gianluca Zambrotta. A long free kick by Gabriel Tamas was headed back toward the Italy goal by the defender, but Mutu was there to steal it and send a right-footed shot past the charging Buffon. Mutu's goal was his 29th in 63 appearances for Romania. He also led the team with six goals in qualifying.

It took the Italians only one minute to reply. Panucci scored his fourth goal in 55 internationals from close range after a corner kick was headed toward him by Giorgio Chiellini, Tamas missing a chance to clear the danger.

Both teams also came close to scoring in the first half.

Romania captain Cristian Chivu hit the post in the 20th when his long-range free kick deflected off Panucci, and Italy forward Luca Toni had a goal disallowed for a controversial offside call in first-half injury time.

Italy changed virtually half its starting line-up from the Netherlands debacle, with the most noteworthy move being Alessandro Del Piero coming on alongside Toni in attack.

Simone Perrotta, Daniele De Rossi, Fabio Grosso and Giorgio Chiellini also moved into the line-up, while Antonio Di Natale, Massimo Ambrosini, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Barzagli and Marco Materazzi were all relegated to Italy's bench.

Italy didn't pose a threat until the ninth, when Del Piero headed wide from close range following a setup from Perrotta. Three minutes later, Grosso dribbled through Florentin Petre's legs as Italy began to organise itself and push up the left flank.

Mutu strode through the Azzurri defence and forced Buffon to make a tough save in the 16th. Two minutes later, Gabriel Tamas put Buffon to the test again with a long, low free kick that the goalkeeper stretched to deflect.

With the momentum clearly in their favour, Romania then nearly scored in the 20th when Chivu's free kick hit the post.

A few seconds later, Razvan Rat and Mirel Radoi collided and Radoi was carried off the field with a bandage over his right eye, forcing Romania to bring on Nicolae Dica.

Toni attempted to become the assist man when he headed over to Perrotta in the 39th, but Codrea made an expert tackle directly in front of the goal.

Toni had two more chances late in the first half, but Romania goalkeeper Bogdan Lobont saved both at the last possible instant. Lobont was Toni's teammate when the pair were with Fiorentina in 2006.

In first-half injury time, Toni finally found the target with a header but the goal was annulled for offside.

Lobont continued his stellar play in the second half, swiping a high ball away from Toni in the 48th.

Mutu's 25-metre attempt was calmly collected by Buffon in the 54th, and the Fiorentina forward scored a minute later, coming through on coach Victor Piturca's promise that "the real Mutu" would show itself against Italy.

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Italy: Gianluigi Buffon, Gianluca Zambrotta, Christian Panucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Fabio Grosso, Daniele De Rossi, Andrea Pirlo, Mauro Camoranesi (Massimo Ambrosini, 85), Alessandro Del Piero (Fabio Quagliarella, 77), Simone Perrotta (Antonio Cassano, 57), Luca Toni.

Romania: Bogdan Lobont, Cosmin Contra, Gabriel Tamas, Dorin Goian, Razvan Rat, Florentin Petre (Banel Nicolita, 59), Mirel Radoi (Nicolae Dica, 25), Cristian Chivu, Paul Codrea, Adrian Mutu (Razvan Cocis, 88), Daniel Niculae.

Scorers: Mutu (R) 55, Panucci (I) 56

Referee: Tom Ovrebo (Norway)