TFC coach Vanney 'frustrated' with 'endless guessing' by MLS referees

Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney is getting fed up. And with good reason.

The second-year bench boss watched on as, for the second straight match, his team seemed to be on the wrong end of an atrocious, match-altering call from an official.

Two weeks ago it was a straight red card to Justin Morrow for a seemingly perfect tackle, which forced the Canadian club to play 45 minutes with ten men against Columbus in a match they would go on to lose 2-0.

Sunday in Salt Lake City, TFC looked to have evened things up at one apiece in the second half when Nick Hagglund freed himself of his marker and headed home a perfect Sebastian Giovinco free-kick.

But it was not to be. Referee Hilario Grajeda inexplicably called a foul on the Toronto defender, negating the goal. TFC would tie the match late, but - in something that has become all too familiar - conceded almost immediately after in the 89th minute, ultimately falling 2-1.

Vanney outlined his frustration with the standard of officiating in the league, though he was quick to note that his biggest issue with the match was his team's inability to keep RSL from scoring the late winner.

"I’m frustrated with the team for giving up a goal late, one minute after we equalized," Vanney told reporters after the match. "That was one of my frustrations with our team, things we need to be better at. My other frustration is with the endless guessing by the officials. I felt like the goal was Hagglund just opening himself up and then we get that called back."

Vanney continued, addressing the fact his team has gotten the short end of the stick twice in three matches this season. 

"I don’t think it’s anything intentional - I think it’s just referees missing calls. Period. Unfortunately, they’re game-changing calls. Referees will always miss calls. That’s part of it and we live with it. But there needs to be less calls that alter or change the game. That’s where it gets incredibly frustrating.

"It’s very difficult to get explanations these days."