Arif Aiman twice gave the Malaysians the lead only to see Gustavo and Popp cancel out both strikes to leave the two teams frustrated as the points were shared in the eastern side of the tournament’s league phase.
Port coach Muscat was forced into making a late change to his starting line-up, replacing Zhang Linpeng with Jiang Guangtai after the veteran China PR international defender was injured in the warm-up.
Matheus Vargas had an early sight of goal, the Argentinian charging through the centre unopposed to thump a right-footed shot that only narrowly missed the top corner of Andoni Zubiaurre.
JDT sought to frustrate the home side but Muscat’s team were still able to find their way through, Oscar to the fore as he played a slide-rule pass into the area for Leo Cittadini but the Brazilian dragged his attempt across the face of goal.
Yan Junling had to be alert at the other end in the 32nd minute when he was called upon to push away Juan Muniz’s swerving free-kick from distance but, with moments left in the half, the China PR international could do little about JDT’s opener.
Arif was found 30 yards from goal and proceeded to glide past three home defenders into space, hitting a left-foot shot from 20 yards that flew past Yan.
It took only three minutes of second half play, however, for Shanghai to level. Oscar fed Popp on the right side of the penalty area and, while the Brazilian’s low shot was saved by Zubiaurre as he dived to his right, Gustavo pounced to equalise.
By the 56th minute JDT were back in front, and again it was Arif who punished the home defence.
The Malaysia international raced onto Jorge Obregon’s raking pass from inside his own half that left him one-on-one with Wei Zhen and, after the Port defender had made an unconvincing effort to clear, Arif stepped inside to coolly slot beyond Yan once more.
But the home side levelled for a second time in the 73rd minute, Oscar’s low free-kick across the six-yard box caused havoc in the JDT defence and, as the ball looped into the air, Popp volleyed in equalise.
Jiang almost won the game deep into injury time for Shanghai, the England-born defender denied as Zubiaurre turned the ball around the post at a corner.
