The Crew have the league’s best record when giving up the first goal (2-4-4), but in Sunday night’s 4-1 win over Colorado, their task was made somewhat easier after Conor Casey was shown a red card in the 29th minute.
The ejection was handed out after Casey slid into Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer, hitting him with his knee and shin. Casey was obviously late and seemingly reckless. Hesmer emerged battered and bruised but stayed in the match.
Afterward, his anger came through loud and clear.
“(Casey) swung all the way through,” Hesmer said. “That’s one of the best (hits) I’ve ever taken. I don’t know what he was thinking. It was extremely late. It was incredibly dangerous. I almost got the sense he was trying to intentionally hurt me, how bad it was.
“He followed through all the way up to my chest, through my chin. I’ve got pretty bad whiplash right now. I thought it was a terrible, terrible play.”
Watch: Casey comes in hard on Hesmer
Hesmer also took a hit later when Drew Moor came in with a high cleat that seemed to rake Hesmer’s thigh. Again, the goalkeeper stayed in the game, but he took issue with the Rapids’ reaction.
“They’re all yelling at me like I’m cheating and I’m trying to show them the stud mark,” he said. “Drew’s a good guy. He’s immediately apologizing, ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to.’ They’re really frustrated. I don’t think they’re really happy the way their season is going. Their coach is yelling at me thinking I’m a cheater.
“That really (ticked) me off. I’m not here to cheat. I’m the last who’s going to take a dive or try to embellish anything. When I get hit, I get hit. If not, I get up as quickly as I can.”
