Bulgaria missed a chance to all but seal their progression to the EuroBasket with a late 82-81 defeat to Italy.

Pini Gershon's team slipped to 4-3 and will now have to win at home over Serbia on Saturday to boost their chances of clinching direct qualification for the next year's Final Round in Poland.

Todor Stoykov tied the game at 81-81 with a jump shot 20 seconds from the end, but his Bulgarian teammate Deyan Ivanov was called for an unsportsmanlike foul on Giuseppe Poeta.

The guard made one of two free throws with 12 seconds left and Bulgaria didn't have another chance to score as Italy maintained possession.

Poeta put up a jumper with three seconds remaining before time expired.

Italy improved to 4-4 but the one point win means that even if Bulgaria lose next week to Serbia, they are unlikely to pass them due to goal differential.

Bulgaria will be hoping to finish  as one of the three best second-place teams, but that may not happen if they end up like Italy with a 4-4 record.

Poeta had 21 points to lead Italy while captain Stoykov scored 19 for the Bulgarians.

Deyan Ivanov (Bulgaria player): "It was a very tough game. Both team had a great pressure. We were able to lose not more than one point, that was quite what we needed. I am happy tonight because we survived this battle."

Pini Gershon (Bulgaria head coach): "Losing by only one point is for us a big result for our final standing. We achieved what we wanted. Italy is a good team and played this evening a good game. We wish to see Italy in the Final Round of EuroBasket."

Carlo Recalcati (Italy Head coach): "It can look strange, but we won the game and the Bulgarian players and staff have enjoyed it more than us.  I want to thank all Italian players for the pride and dignity showed in this two months we have spent together. I respect them very much, I am very proud for this team."

Matteo Soragna: (Italy, player): "We hoped to qualify directly at the end of this group of game, but we still have the Additional Round to go to the EuroBasket 2009 in Poland. We lost too many games at the beginning, but we have learnt a lot from our mistakes and we have been able to win three games in a row. We are still alive and we will show it next year."