Quick start, Villa's 2 goals puts NYCFC in playoffs

NEW YORK (AP) - Jefferson Mena and David Villa scored a minute apart before the game was 10 minutes old and New York City FC clinched a playoff berth with a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Friday night.

Khiry Shelton assisted on both goals as NYCFC (13-9-9) ran its home unbeaten streak to seven games.

Mena got his first goal for NYCFC in the 8th minute on a play that started off a corner kick before Ronald Matarrita sent a long ball toward the right post that Shelton headed out front for Mena to punch it in. Moments later Shelton sent a short pass to his left and Villa dribbled inside the 18 before finding the bottom right corner.

A header by Luis Solignac for his second goal got the Fire (6-14-9) on the board in the 35th minute. New York got that back in the 44th minute Steven Mendoza, from the top of the arc, left-footed a rocket just under the cross bar for his fourth goal. Villa assisted on that goal and iced it with his 19th goal in the 83rd minute with Shelton getting his third assist.