Jackson said it was his side's best performance of the season.

"Really, really proud. The last time we played against a team from Shanghai (a 3-2 defeat to Shanghai Port on Matchday Four), I said I was really, really proud of the players and I am saying that again because I thought we played even better today.

"Last year, we played in the AFC Cup but this is different now as we are playing against big, big teams and managers and the mentality is different so it is a real, real challenge for us but we have shown spells where we can compete and I think tonight was our best performance in the Champions League," said Jackson.

The Mariners tactician said he was pleased with how his team responded to going behind.

"I was really pleased with the first half but we should have scored some goals as we had the chances and this is what we challenged the boys to do after Saturday's (A League game) - to be more clinical in the final third.

"The two goals we conceded were from lapses in concentration from us but this things happen but the fight, determination, courage and the impact from the bench as well was fantastic tonight.

"Apart from the goals we conceded, we controlled large parts of the game and even when we didn't have the ball, I thought we were in control and that tells me the players are developing and starting to gel together. We were well deserved for the point, if not more."

The dropped points were a bitter pill to swallow for a Shenhua side who looked to be on course for a third win but head coach Leonid Slutsky felt his side did well given the circumstances they faced.

"I think we controlled the game and our opponents did not create many chances. It was a very difficult trip and we lost players even before the game, in the first minute and we had an 18-year-old playing for the first time.

"It is painful but we have move forward. We don't have excuses because we are professional players and we have to prepare for the next game," said Slutsky.

Shenhua, on seven points, travel again for their Matchday Five encounter against Korea Republic's Gwangju FC while Mariners face Japan's Vissel Kobe away.