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David Villa scores twice to power NYCFC over Houston Dynamo

David Villa scored his 20th and 21st goals of the season and New York City FC beat the Houston Dynamo 2–0 on Friday to take the Eastern Conference lead.
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HOUSTON (AP) — David Villa scored his 20th and 21st goals of the season and New York City FC beat the Houston Dynamo 2–0 on Friday to take the Eastern Conference lead.

Jack Harrison played a corner short to Andrea Pirloin the 52nd minute. Villa received Pirlo's cross near the goal line and placed a narrow-angle finish through the legs of Houston goalkeeper Joe Willis to open the scoring.

Villa nearly added a second in the 58th minute with a bending shot off the post. He completed the task in the 91st with a rising blast from the top of the box that moved him ahead of Bradley Wright-Phillips of New York in the MLS Golden Boot race.

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City moved to 51 points in the Eastern Conference standings, two ahead of Toronto FC, which can regain top place with victory at home against D.C. United on Saturday.

Houston remained last in the West on 32 points.

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