The Brooklyn Knights opened defense of its Premier Development League Northeast Division title with a 2-1 win against the Newark Ironbound Express at New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Lubetkin Field in Newark, N.J., on Sunday afternoon.
The Knights jumped in front one minute before the half when forward John Sallhag took a ball off the post and put the ball past Express goalkeeper Derby Carrillo to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.
The Express nearly equalized in the 65th minute when Jerrod Laventure sent a ball through the Knights defense to a streaking Oral Bullen, who saw his one touch bounce off the wrong side of the far post.
Eight minutes later, the Knights added an insurance goal with Sallhag turning provider, setting up Ryan Williams.
Newark player/coach Victor Kotynski set up defender David Topolski in the 89th minute and the Ironbound Express nearly equalized a minute later, Topolski’s shot sailed just high of the net.
The Knights take on the Rhode Island Stingrays on Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Metropolitan Oval in their home opener.
