Pirouzi top the western central Asian standings after three games in the round-robin quarter-finals and go through to the semifinals with Irtysh Pavlodar of Kazakhstan who they lead on goal difference.

Irtysh defeated Saudi Arabian champions Al Ittihad 2-1 to reach the last four for the first time since joining the Asian Football Confederation in 1994.

But all the controversy came in Pirouzi's match against Al Hilal who were determined not to give up their title without a fight.

Abdullah Sharida was shown the red card for attacking assistant referee Sherali Shukerov in the 63rd minute.

Sixteen minutes later Colombian striker Ricardo Perez Tamayo was sent off for a second bookable offence after he punched Hamed Reza Estili.

Estili played on for 10 minutes before being helped to the touchline, where he collapsed and was taken to hospital.

Al Hilal had taken an early lead after nine minutes through former Wolverhampton Wanderers player Sami Al Jaber before Ali Karimi pulled the Tehran club level just before half-time.

The game boiled over in the second half when Japanese referee Masayoshi Okada awarded Pirouzi a penalty for handball sparking Abdullah attack on assistant referee Shukerov.

Ali Ansarian scored from the spot but was forced to retake the penalty and beat goalkeeper Mohammad Al Deayea again.

In the 69th minute Hamed Kavianpour, a recent triallist with English sides Bolton Wanderers and Ipswich Town, made the score 3-1 with a 25-yard drive.

Tempers continued to rise before Tamayo was sent off for his attack on Estili.

Irtysh gained the upper had against Al Ittihad on Sunday with two goals inside the first 25 minutes from their Brazilian striker Nilton Mendes.

His first, a header from a corner, came after just 14 minutes and 11 minutes later he doubled his side's lead when he skipped past two defenders before scoring.

Al Ittihad pulled one back through Mohammad Hwasawi on 41 minutes, but they did not breach the Kazakh defence again as Sergio Ricardo wasted their best chance in the second half.