David Villa seemed to always have a step on his D.C. defenders. (Adam Hunger/USA Today Sports)

Leave it to David Villa to become FrontRowSoccer.com’s first double winner of the young 2017 season.

The New York City FC captain and striker Monday was named the website’s winner of player of the week and goal of the week for the week ending Sunday, March 12.

After firing blanks in City’s 1-0 season-opening loss a week prior, Villa certainly was in midseason form, spearheading the Blues’ 4-0 romp over D.C. United in their home-opener at Yankee Stadium Sunday.

“It’s good for me. I’m a striker,” he said. “I always try to help the team with goals. Most important to me, I scored today in the home opener. More important than the goals was winning three points for the team.”

 

https://www.facebook.com/newyorkcityfc/videos/748117658695026/

 

Villa scored two goals, his second one a beauty, and set up a third goal.

After City grabbed a 1-0 lead on Rodney Wallace’s goal, the Costa Rican international winger set up the 2010 World Cup champion. Wallace lofted a cross from the left side that found the head of Villa and the 2016 MLS MVP nodded it home into the right corner for a 2-0 margin.

Villa’s second goal was a beauty, which fans are likely to remember Villa’s second goal more than any other tally Sunday. He latched onto a pass from Maxi Moralez, bolted toward the left side of the net with defender Steve Birnhaum close at hand before drilling a shot from a ridiculous angle over the left shoulder in the 75th minute.

“One v one, I think the best way was going inside, looking at my right leg,” he said. “But in the moment, I saw Hamid do it well on the left side. You need to find solution. At the first moment I thought about going inside with my right leg but I changed in the moment due to the movement of the center back.”

 

https://www.facebook.com/newyorkcityfc/videos/747644848742307/

 

Players from the area’s professional teams are eligible for player of the week honors, as are players who were born in the tri-state area but are performing elsewhere. Players who accomplish extraordinary feats at the youth and amateur levels will be considered when appropriate.

FrontRowSoccer.com player of the week winners

Week 1 (March 6) — Joseph Bendik (Orlando City SC)

Week 2 (March 13) — David Villa (New York City FC)

FrontRowSoccer.com goal of the week winners

Week 1 (March 6) — Daniel Royer (New York Red Bulls)

Week 2 (March 13) — David Villa (New York City FC)

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.