Villa scores 50th, 51st career MLS goals

New York (AFP) – David Villa scored twice to lift New York City FC to a 2-1 win Saturday over the Seattle Sounders, becoming the fifth fastest player in MLS history to reach 50 career goals.

The reigning MLS MVP Villa needed just 78 games to score 50 goals as he leads all MLS players with 14 multi-goal games since he joined the league two years ago.

The contest was played in a driving rain at Yankee Stadium but that didn’t deter Villa as he now has 51 total goals.

The deluge in New York began about 45 minutes before kickoff, and the rains continued throughout the match causing players to slide and lose their balance on the soft pitch.

Villa, who hadn’t scored in three weeks, got the game winner in the 77th minutes, as he knocked it in from the left side of the box.

Villa got No. 50 early in the second half on a penalty kick. 

Cristian Roldan put Seattle up 1-0 in the 40th minute.

NYCFC controlled most of the first half, but their only real chance came in the first minute of extra time when Villa’s shot off a deflected ball caromed off the crossbar.

NYCFC will host the New York Red Bulls on June 24.