Soccer: Muscat scores on and off the park

Phoenix's Manny Muscat. Photo / NZPA

Manny Muscat celebrated a new two-year deal by scoring the goal that gave Wellington Phoenix a 1-0 win over Newcastle Jets on Friday night.

It was Muscat's first goal in 85 A-League games and lifted the Phoenix to third on the competition ladder. It was also the first time they had achieved consecutive wins away from home in the club's five-and-a-half years.

Muscat turned down approaches from both his home town clubs, Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart, to sign the new deal and the 27-year-old admitted the offers, along with the fact wife Rebecca is expecting the couple's first child on January 30, made the decision to remain in Wellington difficult.

"There were a lot of factors to consider, especially with opportunities to go back to Melbourne," Muscat said. "My family are there and I have business commitments as well, so it was a tough decision. But in the end I thought, 'if you are enjoying your football as I am, why go elsewhere?'.

"The fact that Dura (captain Andrew Durante) and Iffie (Paul Ifill) have just re-signed was a factor in my decision as was Ricki [Herbert] staying with the club. Ricki is the only coach I've had in my professional career and he has had a major influence on me. He knows what people are all about and gets the best out of you."

Muscat's new deal brings to 10 the number of players contracted for next year. Durante, Ifill, Ben Sigmund, Tony Lochhead, Tim Brown, Leo Bertos, Lucas Pantelis, Jimmy Downey and Mirjan Pavlovic are all on the playing roster for the 2012/13.

Daniel, Mark Paston, Tony Warner, Brent Griffiths, Vince Lia, Niko Tsattalios, Alex Smith, Nicky Ward, Dani Sanchez, Chris Greenacre and Cameron Lindsay are all off contract at the end of this season but the club are already in talks about re-signing Sanchez and Greenacre, who is also assistant coach, is bound to be retained in some capacity.

Muscat curled home a brilliant left-foot strike in the 58th minute against Newcastle and he was soon swamped by his teammates who appreciated the importance of the goal. The Phoenix now enjoy a break before their next home game when they host the Heart at Westpac Stadium on January 29 in what shapes as a pivotal match in Wellington's home playoff chances.

The Maltese international would never have expected to be with the club for six years - how long he will have been at Wellington once his new deal runs out - when he first arrived.

With the club looking for an injury replacement for Vince Lia going into their second season, Muscat joined the team in Sydney and had one training session before heading to Wollongong for a friendly against Sydney FC.

Thrown into the fray in the unfamiliar position of left-back, Muscat impressed Herbert so much that by halftime he had turned to then chief executive Tony Pignata and given him the thumbs up.

"The boys told me it was one of the best trials they had seen, and I feel it was one of the best games I've ever played," said Muscat, who had been playing for Green Gully in the Victorian league.

"I never thought I would be away from the family for that long, but I see them often because they are at many of our games in Australia. With the new contract, and a new baby, I'm starting a new journey and am looking forward to it.

"The only change I'd like to see is me return to the defensive midfield role I prefer. I've been happy to fill in at right back but hope to convince Ricki I should be in midfield where I feel more involved in the game.

"The Phoenix playing squad is second to none. I think the way we have been playing this season is testament to that. People write us off year after year and we try and prove them wrong.

"This year was especially difficult. We had the ownership issues and some bad injuries early on but we just got on with the job. There is tremendous character in this team."