Toronto FC appeals Altidore’s red card

TORONTO • The day after a halftime tunnel me lee disrupted Game 2 of the MLS Eastern Conference semifinal, Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney was still radiating frustration.

Frustrated that he had lost his two star strikers to suspension, frustrated that he was still having to talk about off-the-field issues, frustrated at two disallowed goals and frustrated most of all by the New York Red Bulls’ antagonistic approach to Sunday’s game.

Toronto lost the ill-tempered affair 1- 0 but still advanced to the conference final against Columbus on the away-goals rule after the Red Bulls series finished tied 2-2 on aggregate.

“You can probably tell I’m still annoyed at the game,” said Vanney.

“I’m annoyed because again the dialogue is not about soccer, the dialogue is about a bunch of other things. And that’s irritating in what is supposed to be our league’s sort of spectacle of the sport and it’s become about a lot of other things.”

A flashpoint between Toronto’s Jozy Altidore and New York captain Sacha Kljestan in the 34th minute spilled into the BMO Field tunnel at halftime with both players being red-carded for violent conduct.

A glass wall separates members of the public in the nearby Tunnel Club, so there were plenty of witnesses. Fan video of the halftime confrontation shows a mass of surging, shouting, pushing bodies filling the tunnel that leads to the home dressing room. The Red Bulls are supposed to turn left to go down a corridor that leads to their lockerroom while Toronto heads straight to get to theirs.

For some reason, Red Bulls staff and players kept going up the tunnel and the melee ensued.

The half ended with Altidore making contact with a Red Bulls player, prompting fourth official Silviu Petrescu to run on the field in a bid to head off any further incidents.

Vanney spoke briefly to Altidore before the forward left the field, reminding him to stay focused on the task at hand. The TV broadcast shows a clearly wound-up Altidore heading inside followed by a smirking Kljestan. Then mayhem ensued under the stadium.

Toronto said Altidore was swarmed in the tunnel. Kljestan had a different version, saying Altidore shoved him into the wall.

Toronto plays Columbus next, with Game 1 in Ohio on Nov. 21.