NEW YORK -- Jefferson Mena and David Villa both scored before the 10-minute mark and New York City FC inched ever closer to clinching the club's first MLS 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 scored his first goal for NYCFC in the eighth 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 in.
Moments later Shelton sent a short pass to his left and Villa dribbled inside the penalty area 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, blasted a left-footed a rocket just under the crossbar for his fourth goal.
Villa assisted on the Mendoza goal and iced it with his 19th goal in the 83rd minute with Shelton getting his third assist.
NYCFC is in first place in the Eastern Conference for now and is nearly a lock for the postseason barring a disastrous last three games.