KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) were left ruing their defensive lapses after squandering their lead twice in the 2-2 draw with Shanghai Port in the Asian Champions League Elite opener at the Pudong Stadium tonight.
Nippy winger Arif Aiman Hanapi brought his A game to China and bagged a brace, but the Chinese Super League champions were still able to extend their unbeaten home record in continental matches to 21 matches.
The cagey match saw both sides playing an attacking game, but the deadlock was only broken in the 45th minute after Arif Aiman left-footed a shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner, beyond the reach of Shanghai goalkeeper Yan Junling.
The Red Eagles started the second half with more intent and only needed three minutes to net the equaliser when Gustavo pounced inside the JDT box in the 48th minute.
But eight minutes later, Arif Aiman bagged his second goal with another sensational run from a fast break and firing it past the flailing Yan Junling.
JDT seemed to be in the driver's seat for a winning start, but disaster struck when Oscar Arribas gave away a foul in the dangerous area, and from the resulting freekick, Willian Popp netted the leveler for Shanghai with an acrobatic effort in the 73rd minute.
Shanghai's former Chelsea star, Oscar, came close to handing his side the winner, but his shot in the 96th minute was blocked by JDT custodian Andoni Zubiaurre.
The creditable result in Shanghai should boost the Southern Tigers in their next match against Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Oct 1.