NYCFC celebrates David Villa’s goal.  (Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports)

BRONX, N.Y. — New York City FC secured a home knockout-round match by defeating the Philadelphia Union in its regular-season finale Sunday.

City recorded a 3-1 Major League Soccer win over Philly at Yankee Stadium.

NYCFC (16-10-8, 56 points) will play in a knockout-round match in the MLS Cup Playoffs Wednesday at 7 p.m.

If the side wins, it would host an Eastern Conference semifinal match against an opponent to be determined. It would be either the Union (15-14-5, 5) or the Columbus Crew, whose Decision Day match was delayed by inclement weather and was still going on after the NYCFC encounter was called.

The hosts scored all their goals within the opening 34 minutes.

Center back Maxime Chanot, off a Maxi Moralez feed lifted NYCFC into the lead in the eighth minute. Two minutes later, an Auston Trusty own goal gave City a 2-0 advantage.

After Cory Burke pulled one back in the 14th minute, team captain David Villa tallied his team-high 14th goal of the season to give City some breathing room.

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.