June 6, 2012
'EXTRA DISAPPOINTING'
Solli, Red Bulls take Open Cup ouster hard

Jan Gunnar Solli: "This was a high priority for us. That's why it was extra disappointing." Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Another year, another cup elimination.

The Red Bulls have participated in the Lamar Hunt/U.S. Open Cup since 1996 and every time they have left the tournament disappointed.

As the MetroStars, they reached the 2003 final, dropping a 1-0 decision to the Chicago Fire at home.

On Tuesday night, they exited the tournament via a 3-1 extratime loss to the Harrisburg City Islanders, a USL PRO team.

After last year's neglect of the tournament, the Red Bulls made winning the Open Cup a priority. So, they took this year's elimination hard.

"This was a high priority for us," midfielder Jan Gunnar Solli. "That's why it was extra disappointing. We wanted to come out here and win the game and then take a holiday, well deserved. It's still going to be a holiday, but everybody is going to be really disappointed. We lost a game that was very unfortunate because we were hoping to go all the way with the cup this year."

Now the Red Bulls have to change their focus.

"We're focusing on winning the MLS Cup," said rookie Connor Lade, who scored the team's lone goal. "We wanted to get this one as well. Now that this one is out of the picture, we can focus and put all our efforts and concentration on winning that and staying fit over the break, concentrating and to get back to our form we were playing in and get some good results going forward."

Solli agreed.

"There's a lot of things to play for," he said. "We're not going to dig our own grave."