Rising from the ashes

Six months ago, the future of the Wellington Phoenix was looking pretty grim. The club's owner Terry Serepisos was fighting a battle to avoid bankruptcy, and coach Ricki Herbert barely had a team, let alone a full squad for the upcoming season.

Six months is a long time in sport. This morning, the Wellington Phoenix sits in second place on the A-League ladder after a terrific 3-1 victory over the fourth-placed Melbourne Heart at the Ring of Fire yesterday. And the good folk of Wellington listened to Gareth Morgan's pleas; 13,601 turned out to cheer the Phoenix home; their best Wellington crowd of the season; Sam Worthington from the Dom-Post reports:

The buzz is back at Westpac Stadium, as Wellington responded to Gareth Morgan's call to arms and the Phoenix came to the party with three A-League points to surge into second place.

Yesterday's 3-1 win over Melbourne Heart in front of a season-best Wellington crowd of 13,601 lifted the Phoenix ahead of defending champions Brisbane Roar and although the minor premiership is probably out of reach, a home final is now there for the taking.

It is uncharted territory for the Phoenix, who had been written off as likely wooden spooners by many A-League observers after a tumultuous off-season.

But after getting the lay of the land, the new Welnix owners are stepping up their game off the pitch, just as Ricki Herbert's charges are on it. Co-owner Morgan pleaded with the fans to turn out en masse and they enjoyed a dominant Phoenix performance as Paul Ifill struck twice and Chris Greenacre once.

There have been no star signings but things are starting to happen under Morgan and co: a new strip and new sponsors while promotion of home matches has gone up a level.

There was a lot to like in the way that the 'Nix played yesterday. Herbert has a pretty settled side, and there's genuine competition for places in the starting team; a far cry from the beginning of the season when those who were fit played.

And there's a great spirit in the side to, underlined yesterday by defender Manny Muscat. Muscat has been on leave in Melbourne since the Newcastle game a week ago, awaiting the birth of his first child. But said baby has shown no signs of emerging, so Muscat flew from Melbourne yesterday, arriving in Wellington just an hour or so before kick-off, and playing a blinder. Muscat was instrumental in the 'Nix's third goal with a pinpoint pass setting up Paul Ifill to score. Muscat now returns to Melbourne to resume what we hope will be a short vigil.

The only negative for the 'Nix is that five of their eight remaining matches are on the road, but with two away wins in their last two matches, they've broken the hoodoo of winning on the road. With third-placed Brisbane and fourth-placed Melbourne Heart struggling, there's no reason why the 'Nix can't hang on to second, which would give them home finals advantage well into the play-offs.

Well done Wellington Phoenix.