TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- The New York-New Jersey MetroStars got goals from Mark Chung and Petter Villegas and took over sole possession of first place in Major League Soccer's Eastern Division with a 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Mutiny on Saturday night.

New York-New Jersey, which has won seven of 10 games, holds a three-point lead over second place New England. This is the latest into a season that the MetroStars have been in first.

Chung scored in the 38th minute, sending a left-footed shot from 25 yards just inside the post. Daniel Hernandez picked up his first assist since Sept. 5, 1998 on Chung's second goal of the season.

Chung left in the 52nd minute when he bruised his right heel taking a shot that hit the post.

Villegas scored in the 86th minute for New York-New Jersey (9-7-2), which is 8-1-1 when scoring the game's first goal. The MetroStars have won three straight road games.

Tampa Bay nearly took the early lead, but Eric Quill's in-close shot hit the post during the 14th minute. The Mutiny's Mamadou Diallo (MLS-best 16 goals) and Carlos Valderrama (league-leading 18 assists) were held in check by the MetroStars defense.

The Mutiny (10-9-0), tied for first place in the Central Division with Chicago, have dropped three consecutive home games. Tampa Bay started the season 6-0 at home.

The MetroStars were without German National Team midfielder Lothar Matthaus (lower back strain), starting goalkeeper Mike Ammann (midback strain) and defender Thomas Dooley (left hamstring).