REYKJAVIK, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta scored four minutes from time to scramble a 1-1 draw with Iceland in their Euro 2008 qualifier on Saturday.

The visitors had midfielder Xabi Alonso sent off after 19

minutes and fell behind to a header by Emil Hallfredsson 20

minutes later.

Spain poured forward in search of an equaliser and were

rewarded when substitute Iniesta poked the ball past keeper Arni

Arason.

The result left Spain third in Group F with 16 points from

eight games, level with second-placed Northern Ireland and three

behind leaders Sweden.

"It was difficult with a man down but we fought hard and I

think we deserved something more from the game," Spain defender

Sergio Ramos told Radio Marca.

Spain started positively on a rain-swept pitch when striker

David Villa forced Arason to turn a low free kick round the post

in the fourth minute.

But the home side's muscular approach unsettled Spain and

they were thrown further out of their stride when Alonso stamped

on Arnar Vidarsson in a challenge to earn a red card.

Two minutes later Johannes Gudjonsson's shot flew just wide

of Spain's post.

Luis Aragones's attacking substitution, replacing a full

back with another midfielder seemed to settle the visitors but

left them short at the back.

Iceland made full use of the space when Gudjonsson's cross

from the right found Hallfredsson unmarked at the back post,

from where he drilled a diving header low into the net.

Spain, who had won their last four qualifiers, dominated the

second half and Iceland dug in and played on the break.

Iker Casillas saved well from Gunnar Heidar Thorvaldsson on

a counter and it was late in the game when Villa's clipped

through ball allowed Iniesta to squirm clear and slide the ball

past the advancing keeper.

Barcelona's Iniesta scored the late winner for Spain against

Iceland in Mallorca when Spain won 1-0 in March.