Jallow beat Queensborough emergency goalkeeper Carlos Hernandez with a twenty-five yard blast into the upper left-hand corner of the net. Hernandez had replaced starting keeper Kijana Kerr (leg injury) just two minutes prior to the game-winning play.

“It’s unfortunate but losing Kijana to an injury turned out to be the difference in the game,” said Queensborough head coach Calvin Salmon. “Carlos has very little experience as a keeper and he was not ready on the play. He was too close to the wall and was not in the center of the goal.”

Queensborough, who was outshot by a 13-4 margin, had an excellent chance to even the score in the 75th minute as freshman Anniff Byfield struck a hard grounder that bounced off the shoulder of Manhattan goalie Michael Zajac and just wide of the net.

“We won today because of teamwork and dedication,” said Manhattan head coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi. “Queensborough played a very physical game which gave our players some trouble. We knew that we would play much better once we scored a goal.”

Manhattan sophomore Takuma Komiya was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament because of his steady play in the midfield.

“I’m very proud of the way our defense played today,” said Komiya, who suffered a large bruise under his eye in the physical contest. “We really didn’t play well in the first half but picked things up in the second period.” It was the first Community College Championship for Manhattan since 2001. Bronx had won the past two seasons, having defeated Manhattan in two consecutive championship games.

Bronx received a first half goal from sophomore Phillip Gohagan (1 goal, 1 assist) and added two late goals in the final stanza to defeat Kingsborough in the opening game. Gohagan collected a corner kick at the top of the box and knocked the gamewinner into the left corner of the net at the 31 minute mark. Gohagan also assisted on the second goal (72nd minute) as he delivered a perfect cross to freshman Dame Tall (1 goal, 1 assist), who beat Kingsborough goalkeeper Gamal Shohatee.

Freshman Ben Datuowe added an insurance tally in the 81st minute on an assist from sophomore Marvin Ellis.