Having conceded a goal to Milan Badelj on 53 minutes, Iceland were staring down the barrell of a World Cup exit regardless of the result in the other Group D game.
However, a lifeline was given to them when a handball was given against Croatia.
Dejan Lovren was the offender, with the ball striking his left arm clearly, leaving the referee to award the penalty despite the Liverpool player's protests.
It was left to Gylfi Sigurdsson to try and get his side back in to the game, with the added pressure of his penalty miss against Nigeria no doubt weighing on his mind.
Even so, the Everton man remained composed enough to send the penalty high into the net and bring Iceland level.