Bani Yas remain on the trophy trail after reaching the quarter-finals of the President’s Cup with a 3-1 win against Al Wasl.

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Two goals from Joan Verdu and another from Amer Abdulrahman saw the Sky Blues proceed last night.

The match hinged, however, on Bani Yas’ equalising goal on the hour mark, which was initially disallowed.

Referee Hamad Al Ali eventually overruled his assistant, who had flagged the goal for offside, deeming that Angel Dealbert had not got a touch to Amer Abdulrahman’s 25-yard rocket.

The leveller was the least the home side deserved, with replays showing Dealbert had not got a touch, but it left a sour taste in the mouth for Wasl coach Gabriel Calderon.

“My team controlled the game until the referee changed his decision,” said the Argentine. 

“The second referee said it was no goal but after pressure from the Bani Yas players, the referee changed his decision.”

Bani Yas boss Luis Garcia said he would have respected the official’s decision, whatever it was.

“I respect the referee’s decision no matter what, but I also respect Gabriel Calderon,” said the Spaniard.

Despite the contentious goal, this was a win Bani Yas deserved.

They enjoyed the better of the first-half chances and Denis Stracqualursi should have put them ahead inside five minutes, choosing to chip Wasl goalkeeper Yousif

Abdulla, comfortably clearing the crossbar, much to the bemusement of the home support.

The former Everton forward headed against the post, although he was offside, before a moment of Brazilian brilliance carved open Luis Garcia’s side.

There didn’t look an awful lot of danger when Fabio De Lima was played in down the right.

He checked inside Yousef Jaber and unleashed a curling left foot shot that clipped the post on its way in.

Bandar Al Ahbabi was just wide with an almost carbon-copy effort as the hosts responded, while Mohsin Al Hashmi had to be at his best at the other end, sprawling himself wide to deny De Lima a second.

Their eventual equaliser sparked a Sky Blue revival.

Seven minutes after midfield pivot Abdulrahman’s strike it was 2-1, Joan Verdu and substitute Haboosh Saleh combining for a sublime goal.

The Spaniard fed the young Emirati before latching onto his return ball, cutting inside a defender and coolly dinking over Abdulla.

Ederson Alves’ trickery almost led to an equaliser, but Al Hamshi blocked his effort, and Bani Yas sealed their passage minutes later through Verdu’s second.

Man of the match Al Ahbabi tortured his marker before delivering into the box where Verdu climbed excellently to power a header downwards and into the roof of the net.

Bani Yas, beaten at this stage last season, now have the chance to make their first final since 2011, when they were beaten 3-1 by Al Jazira. 

They have only once won the competition, 23 years ago, but Al Wahda and Al Jazira’s exits have Garcia dreaming.

“It’s not easy for us because there are strong teams left in the competition but, now, we can win.  It is another match.

“In the cup, it is different. Dubai won, while Al Wahda and Al Jazira lost. 

“We are happy for the fans. They were so excited and we dedicate this win to them.”