Daejeon made the early running with Diogo bursting down the right side of the Shanghai Port penalty area in the sixth minute before testing Yan Junling with a powerful right foot shot that the home goalkeeper comfortably blocked with his body.

Kim Bong-soo and Seo Jin-su both threatened while Lee Soon-min missed to the right as the visitors made a strong start to keep Shanghai on the back foot. Ha Chang-rae, meanwhile, put the ball in the home net only to be ruled out for offside.

Similarly, Wang Zenao rolled the ball past Lee Joon-seo but the assistant referee’s flag was raised.

Four minutes from the break Shanghai Port almost went in front, Wu Lei turning to strike towards goal from six yards out only to see his first-time shot rebound back off Lee Joon-seo’s left post.

Ampem broke the deadlock four minutes into the second half when he lashed home a left-foot shot from inside the area, the Ghanaian scoring his fourth goal in two matches after netting a hat-trick in the opening win over Ratchaburi.

Five minutes later, though, the visitors were level when Jeong Jae-hee delivered his cross from the right for Diogo to nod past Yan Junling as he stooped to meet the ball as it bounced into his path.

Substitute Leonardo was denied by Lee Joon-seo with 19 minutes remaining after the Brazilian was presented with possession 20 yards from goal by the Daejeon defence as both sides sought the winner.

Yan made an instinctive double save to keep the scores level two minutes later, first keeping out Joo Min-kyu’s acrobatic effort before slapping away Gustav Ludwigson’s attempt to convert the rebound from inside the six-yard box.

Joo Min-kyu should have sealed the win for Daejeon in stoppage time but Shanghai Port were given a left-off as the Korea Republic striker headed narrowly wide.