Alain Faccini went in as a substitute in the second half and scored a brace within 13 minutes to turn the match on its head and give Sliema Wanderers their second consecutive victory against Qormi, who themselves succumbed to defeat for the second consecutive week.

The improved Wanderers made amends for their defeat against the same opponents in the first round, but yesterday they had to come from behind to overcome Qormi’s first half lead, although in the final analysis, Sliema were by far the more technically superior side.

Glenn Zammit played in the Sliema goal for the injured Bonello, but otherwise the Wanderers were unchanged from the side that beat Mosta in the previous game.

Qormi were buoyed by the return of Leighton Grech, after missing out the match against Valletta, replacing Jonathan Bondin, but Matthew Bartolo only played as a late substitute.

Sliema created enough chances to have taken the lead in the first half but they failed to convert them in equal measure and were almost punished for that.

Qormi carved out two opportunities – one in the opening minutes, when Grech ran through the two Sliema central defenders on Bello-Osagie’s pass but hit feebly off target – and in the half’s added time when they managed to take the lead. Joseph Chetcuti nipped in behind two static Sliema defenders to volley Sciberras’ pass past the helpless keeper Zammit.

But Sliema were on top for most of the half, their snappy passing and movement depriving their opponents of the ball for long periods. Luigi Ruggiero’s bursts down the flank, scorching his opponents on several oaccsions, left Qormi vulnerable even if the Wanderers lacked the bite to capitalise.

Towards the quarter hour, Ruggiero went in from the left, his cross hit a Qormi defender, fell to Beppe Muscat whose shot was held out by keeper Farrugia.

Past the half hour, Ruggiero’s cross was cleared out into the path of of Laudisi who played the ball sqaure top Woods, who shot over.

On 37 minutes Laudisi carved an opening for Ruggiero to cross but Alex Muscat contrived to head over from a promising position in front of goal.

Laudisi should have doen better after he chased a long Barbetti pass but the Qormi keeper rushed out to block.

Sliema tried hard to probe for an equaliser in the second half, making two substitutions before the hour, as they put in Faccini and then El Ghaouti. Laudisi had already failed to put his shot on target, on Woods’ pass before Sliema were awarded a penalty on 69 minutes. On Gatt Baldacchino’s cross, Alex Muscat’s header was held by Cassar’s outstretched arm. Ivan Woods showed no sympathy with a clinical low  conversion from the spot kick.

Qormi’s response ten minutes later almost put them again in front. Keeper Zammit failed to intercept the ball on Chetcuti’s corner but Bello-Osagie headed wide.

Sliema immediately hit back. Woods played the ball wide to Muscat, whose effort was blocked by the grounded Qormi keeper, but Alain Faccini steered in the loose ball.

Qormi still summoned efforts to salvage at least a point and twice went close to drawing level within three minutes.

Chetcuti tested keeper Zammit with a powerful shot after he chested the ball inside the area and then substitute Pisani made progress from the right but shot against the upright.

There was still time for Faccini to score Sliema’s third deep into added time though. He took Scerri’s squeezed effort in his stride, went past two opponents inside the area and beat keeper Farrugia with a low drive.

Sliema W:  G. Zammit, A. Muscat, L. Martinelli, P. Barbetti, M. Scerri , L. Ruggiero (O. El  Ghaouti), C. Gatt Baldacchino, I. Woods (J. Mifsud), A. Laudisi (A. Faccini), B. Muscat, S. Biancardi

Qormi: M. Farrugia, K. Thackray, J. Chetcuti, A. Bello-Osagie , L. Sciberras, M. Gauci, S. Siritto (V. Pisani), E. Zarate, A. Cassar, S. Wellman, L. Grech (M. Bartolo)

Referee:   M. Spiteri

Asst.refs: C. Francalanza, A. Borg Cardona

4th official: E. Azzopardi (F. Zammit)

Scorers: J. Chetcuti 45+, I. Woods 69 pen, A. Faccini 79, 90+

Yellow cards: L. Martinelli, J. Chetcuti, M. Scerri, B. Muscat, A. Bello-Osagie, M. Farrugia, S. Biancardi

Player of the match: A. Muscat (Sliema W)

TMI top 3:  1. L. Ruggiero  2. J. Chetcuti  3. S. Biancardi