t: The Commodores have found a rhythm in the

TORONTO -- A defiant Ryan Nelsen pointed the finger at the referee and defended his beleaguered team after yet another late goal cost Toronto FC much-needed points in a 1-1 tie with the Philadelphia Union on Saturday. For the second time this season, Jack McInerney scored in second-half stoppage-time to break Toronto FC hearts and earn the Union a tie. Nelsen was more interested in what had gone on before the Philadelphia goal Saturday. The Toronto manager branded defender Doneil Henrys ejection in the 41st minute for a second yellow card a "ridiculously soft sending-off." "And we still looked really good," Nelsen said. "Im really proud of the guys. The work ethic they put in and the determination. We still looked good when we had the ball. I cant fault the players. They were absolutely fantastic ... They worked really hard, theyre gutted. Theyre absolutely gutted in there." Still, once again a tie felt like a loss for Toronto (1-7-5) which is only three points better than it was at the same time last season (1-10-2) when it posted a league-record 0-9 start. Toronto ended last season on a 14-game winless streak. Thirteen games into this season, it is mired in an 11-game winless stretch. And a big reason why is Toronto has lost 11 points in seven games this season due to last-minute goals. Four of those have come in stoppage time and six have come after the 85th minute. Nelsen, who insisted his team had no problem "11 vs. 11" on the day, was more than likely looking to take the heat off his players as he turned his attention on the officiating. But however you rate referee Geoff Gambles handling of the game -- and several Toronto FC players had no complaint with Henrys two yellows -- Toronto was the architect of its own demise by failing to put the game away in the first half. The home side dominated the first 45 minutes but couldnt convert that into goals or chances. Toronto earned six corners in the first half but put only one shot on net. Toronto striker Danny Koevermans, who made his comeback from knee surgery as a substitute late in the game, had no complaints with the officiating. "Is the referee to blame today? No," the straight-shooting Dutchman said of Gamble, who was working his 22nd career MLS game. "He did what he had to do." Rookie midfielder Jonathan Osorios goal in the 66th minute had looked like it might be the winner for struggling Toronto. New Zealand substitute Jeremy Brockie made the goal with a fine swerving cross from the right flank. The 21-year-old Osorio, who won his first cap for Canada earlier in the week, flung himself at the ball and scored with a flying header. It was the third goal of the season for the native of Brampton, Ont., who earned his second start after a fine showing off the bench last week in New England. The tying goal came just as regulation time wound down, prompting a groan along press row from a group of reporters who have seen no shortage of late goals leaked by Toronto. A long throw in by Sheanon Williams was headed away by Torontos Jeremy Hall but only as far as McInerney, whose low shot through traffic beat Joe Bendik as three defenders rushed at the shooter. One can wonder how a defence could leave McInerney alone, given he entered the game tied for the lead in league scoring with nine goals. McInerney also scored in the 94rd minute on April 13 to earn Philadelphia a 1-1 tie with Toronto when the teams met at PPL Park. The young striker, named MLS Player of the Month in April and May, came into the game leading the league with five game-winning goals. The contest was an ill-tempered affair with plenty of shoving and three yellow cards for each side. Philadelphia goalie Zac MacMath and Henry were both yellow-carded in the 27th minute after a shoving match that saw MacMath object to Henry getting in his way while trying to kick the ball away. Hall said Torontos strategy was to get into MacMaths face. "Wed seen the tape from previous games .. we thought if we can put him under pressure and get into his head a little mentally, wed be all right. And thats what we did." Nelsen accused MacMath of assaulting his player, but said he was let off the hook by an inexperienced referee. "Thats a sending off," he said. "We always seem to get the inexperienced referees," he said. "Thats life. Someones going to have them. But they keep making inexperienced decisions. And we seem to be on the end of them." Henry was sent off when he scythed down Danny Cruz on the edge of the box 14 minutes later. It seemed a clear foul by a defender clearly beaten on the play. Koevermans said the linesman made the case to the referee for the second yellow. "I think it was a good call, it was the correct call," he said. "It was a yellow card." Koevermans was introduced for Toronto in the 86th minute, returning after more than 10 months out due to knee surgery. Nelsen said he made the move, taking off Brockie, to have fresh legs up front and help stop the Union from firing the ball back into their end after clearances. "Its a happy day and a sad day," Koevermans said of his comeback, referring to the late goal. Philadelphia (5-5-4) came into the game having lost two of its last three league outings, conceding five goals to Montreal and four to Los Angeles in the losses. The game drew an announced crowd of 19,221, short of a sellout on a hot, humid and occasionally rainy evening. The venue is expected to be full Sunday for the womens friendly between Canada and the U.S. Toronto has next weekend off before travelling to face league doormat D.C. United (1-9-2 ahead of Sundays match with Chicago). 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Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. NFL Jerseys Discount . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Riley LaChance gave Vanderbilt a second-half spark, which was just what Vanderbilt needed.The junior guard scored nine of the Commodores first 11 points in the seconds half as Vanderbilt pulled away for a 75-52 win over Norfolk State in the on-campus portion of Las Vegas Invitational on Friday night.His surge turned a nine-point halftime lead into a 16-point advantage and the Spartans (2-2) never got closer than 11 the rest of the way.Riley played his best five minutes of the season to start that second half, Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew said. He gave us a lot of energy on both ends, which kind of started on the defensive end, I thought. He really got out in transition and hit some 3s that were key for us.Matthew Fisher-Davis led Vanderbilt (2-1) with 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and LaChance added 12, highlighted by three 3-pointers.I was definitely in a good rhythm and my teammates did a good job of pumping me up, and we do a good job of pumping each other up, LaChance said. I think when we made that run in the second half we had really good energy and really good togetherness.Jeff Roberson grabbed 11 rebounds and scored 11 points for the Commodores, who hit 10 of 28 from 3-point range.Norfolk State lost to a Southeastern Conference team for the second time in a week, including a 78-74 defeat at Mississippi State on Nov. 11.A lot of it was our defensive mistakes, to be honest with you, Spartans coach Robert Jones said. We left Fisher-Davis three times on rotations and he had wide-open 3s, so a lot of it was us, not them really. The overall energy wasnt how we play for whatever reason.Jonathan Wade remained hot for the Spartans with 20 points and seven rebounds. Wade scored a career-high 34 points in Tuesdays 91-55 rout of Elizabeth City State.We kind of bbeat ourselves tonight, Wade said.dddddddddddd If our energy level is not there, were not the team were capable of being. We kind of have mental lapses sometimes as a team.The Spartans made only 30 percent of their shots from the floor, hitting 18 of 60.Norfolk State led by three points before Vanderbilt went on a 10-0 run to take a 32-25 lead on LaChances 3-pointer with 3:26 left in the first half.The Commodores missed their first six shots from the floor, but hit 14 of 16 foul shots in the first 20 minutes to help them go on top 37-28 at halftime.BIG PICTURENorfolk State: The Spartans werent able to contain Fisher-Davis and LaChance, and their perimeter defense couldnt stop the Commodores 3-point shooters. Vandy hit 10 treys, Norfolk State was 2 of 11.Vanderbilt: The Commodores have found a rhythm in the past two home wins under first-year coach Bryce Drew, who spent the previous five seasons at his alma mater, Valparaiso. Vanderbilt passed the ball crisply with 16 assists, compared to two for Norfolk State.GOOD WEEKFisher-Davis has looked good in both of Vanderbilts wins this week. Hes played a complete game, Drew said. We all know how well he shoots the ball, but hes been putting the ball down on the floor a little bit and hes been passing it and on the defensive end I think hes done a much better job taking pride in defending his man.UNBALANCED SCORINGWade was the only Spartan in double figures. Alex Long, Zaynah Robinson, Micah Goss and Carrington Ward went a combined 6 for 33 from the floor.UP NEXTNorfolk State visits Butler on Monday for the second game in a 10-day road trip.Vanderbilt hosts Bucknell on Monday in the final of a three-game homestand. ' ' '