Fire extinguishes Revolution

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — Chris Rolfe had a goal and an assist, and the Chicago Fire finally figured out how to beat the New England Revolution in the MLS playoffs with a 3-0 victory Thursday night that eliminated the defending Eastern Conference champions.

Wilman Conde and Gonzalo Segares also scored for the Fire, who will play either Columbus or Kansas City next Thursday for the Eastern Conference title. The Crew and Wizards play Saturday night in Columbus. New England, which was trying to reach the conference finals for a record seventh straight year, instead ended the year on a seven-game winless streak.

Chicago and New England have met in the playoffs six of the last seven seasons, with the Revolution winning four of the matchups — including each of the last three years. But the home team has never lost, and Rolfe and Conde made sure that stat held up for another year, scoring in a 5-minute stretch that spanned halftime.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco appeared to have a good angle on a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box in the second minute of extra time, only to have Matt Reis knock the ball clear as he dived to his left. But the ball went straight to Rolfe, who was at the top of the penalty box, and he tapped it into the net for a 1-0 lead. Reis, still on the ground, never had a chance.

Four minutes after halftime, Conde headed Justin Mapp's free kick into the near side of the net from only inches away. Reis had no chance at that one, either, standing a few feet away.

The Revolution didn't give Jon Busch, the MLS goalkeeper of the year, much of a test. Their best chance came in the 58th, when Kenny Mansally took a left-footed shot from just inside the box. Busch dived and got a hand on it, and the ball slid just past the far post.

Shalrie Joseph also headed a corner into Busch's hands in the 43rd minute.

The Fire tacked on another goal in the 74th minute when Segares scored at close range off a long cross from Rolfe.

New England's chances of making a run in the postseason were hurt before the playoffs even began. Steve Ralston, who led the Revolution in goals and assists, cracked his fibula on Oct. 11 while Taylor Twellman, the team's co-leader with eight goals, is sidelined indefinitely because of a concussion.

Chris Albright was ejected in the 83rd after tackling Blanco from behind.