MLS: Chicago 3, New England 0

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill., Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Chris Rolfe scored the first goal of the series in first-half stoppage time Thursday and Chicago advanced in the MLS playoffs with a 3-0 win over New England.

After playing to a scoreless tie in the first game of the home-and-home conference semifinal series, the teams almost went another half with no goals.

Rolfe, however, produced an unassisted goal just before the first-half whistle and Chicago goalkeeper Jon Busch did the rest.

Busch, named goalkeeper of the year in MLS, recorded 10 shutouts during the regular season.

Wilman Conde added a goal early in the second half and Rolfe assisted on the final goal from Gonzalo Segares in the 74th minute.

New England, playing without its top three scorers because of injuries and a suspension, had reached the MLS Cup Final the last three seasons. The Revolution lost all three of those title games.

Chicago will meet either Kansas City or Columbus in the conference final. The Wizards and the Crew meet Saturday in the decisive game of their MLS semifinal series.