Substitute Francesco Totti scored an injury-time penalty to stun Australia and guide 10-man Italy to to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

With the game seemingly looking to be going to extra time, Blackburn defender Lucas Neill brought down Fabio Grosso inside the area and Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo pointed to the spot.

Totti, who had been surprisingly excluded from the starting XI and had only come on 15 minutes earlier, coolly struck past goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Marco Materazzi's sending-off early in the second half after a two-footed tackle on Mark Bresciano looked to have handed the advantage to Australia.

Italy failed to take advantage of their clear-cut chances in the first half and were forced to defend after the break once Materazzi had been dismissed but the Socceroos were unable to break through.

The Azzurri now face the winner of Ukraine v Switzerland on Saturday in Hamburg.

Marcello Lippi's decision to drop Totti and play Alessandro Del Piero behind attacking duo Alberto Gilardino and Luca Toni was not welcomed by the fans.

Australia coach Guus Hiddink chose Mark Bresciano to replace Liverpool's Harry Kewell, who had failed to recover from a groin injury while Schwarzer returned in goal.

The Socceroos began in confident fashion and almost stunned their opponents in the opening minute, with Scott Chipperfield's cross picking out Tim Cahill in the box but the Everton midfielder could not find any power in his header.

Toni then latched on to Del Piero's dangerous cross and headed inches wide of the far post while Chipperfield made a vital block withAlberto alberto Gilardino ready to shoot from Del Piero's beautiful assist.

Gilardino should have put his team ahead in the 19th minute but his acrobatic kick was palmed over by Schwarzer.

His next save proved more spectacular with Toni controlling Andrea Pirlo's long ball before unleashing a shot which Schwarzer managed to clear with his leg.

Midway through the half Mark Viduka should have punished Italy but his close-range header from Bresciano's free-kick proved an easy catch for goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Buffon was then forced to dive to his left to save Chipperfield's powerful effort from close-range in what was the Aussies' best chance of the opening half.

Five minutes before half-time Gilardino failed to get behind Toni's assist as the Azzurri edged closer.

But despite their clear-cut chances the Italians could have been trailing at the interval had Cahill managed to get a touch on Luke Wilkshire's inviting cross.

Lippi made his first change at half time with striker Vincenzo Iaquinta replacing Gilardino and the substitute immediately provided a cross for Toni, who fired into the stands.

Five minutes after the restart Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo showed a straight red to Materazzi for a two-footed tackle on Bresciano, whose subsequent free-kick fizzed wide of Buffon's far post.

On the hour Chipperfield tested Buffon with a stinging drive which the keeper did well to clear before Wilkshire was then booked for an unnecessary challenge on Del Piero.

The Italians continued to make unforced errors and were quite happy to play inside their own half and hit the Aussies in the counter-attack.

The Aussies failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority as Italy kept their composure in defence.

Bresciano again tested Buffon before the same player's corner saw Cahill head over.

Guus Hiddink made his first substitution 10 minutes from time with forward John Aloisi coming on for Mile Sterjovski.

Zambrotta was booked for wasting time as the Azzurri were desperately holding on.

But with 30 seconds remaining, Grosso and then Totti came to the rescue to help the Italians march on.

Teams

Italy Buffon, Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Materazzi, Grosso,Del Piero (Totti 75), Perrotta, Gattuso, Pirlo,Gilardino (Iaquinta 45), Toni (Barzagli 55).

Subs Not Used: Zaccardo, Peruzzi, Amelia, Camoranesi, Barone, Inzaghi, Oddo, Nesta.

Sent Off: Materazzi (51).

Booked: Grosso, Gattuso, Zambrotta.

Goals: Totti 90 pen.

Australia Schwarzer, Chipperfield, Neill, Moore, Culina,Wilkshire, Cahill, Grella, Bresciano, Sterjovski (Aloisi 81),Viduka.

Subs Not Used: Popovic, Skoko, Kalac, Kennedy, Lazaridis, Covic, Beauchamp, Kewell, Thompson, Milligan.

Booked: Grella, Cahill, Wilkshire.

Att: 46,000

Ref: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain).