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Ken-Kwofie, Echeverry,
Munoz, Fernandes
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Obscure Metro Files: One-game wonders
March 8, 2007
In Metro history, there have been 19 players who played in just one competitive game for the club. Some of these we've already discussed in previous editions of Obscure Metro Files, but now let's give a complete rundown of these one-game wonders.
1996: Ken Hesse, Danny Barber, Martin Munnelly, Mirsad Huseinovic, Omid Namazi, Stan Lembryk, Louis Ken-Kwofie
Hesse and Barber already got their own article, as the two hold the distinction of starting the inaugural Metro game against Los Angeles and being cut soon after. The next four names were all mid-season loan deals that didn't work out. Munnelly was a sub in a win over Kansas City that saw Tab Ramos score his first Metro goal; he would later play for the Staten Island Vipers. Huseinovic started and played the first half versus Colorado; his claim to fame is being capped for the US, playing two minutes in 1992. As of last check, he still plays for amateur club Greek American Atlas. Namazi played the last twelve minutes of the same Colorado match; he would also play for the Vipers but is more known for his career indoors. He has coached in the NPSL as well as in the WUSA for the San Diego Spirit. Lembryk played nine minutes against Dallas, and for three years held the distinction as the shortest time on the field for a Metro player. Amazingly, he is now back in the organization, where he has served as a youth coach for a number of years. The most interesting story comes from Ken-Kwofie; the Ghanaian appeared from nowhere, unless you were a keen observer of Metro office staff games. Somehow, he parlayed that into playing the entire 90 against Tampa Bay, his lone appearance in Metro colors until a stint with MetroBlack in 2002.
1997: Gerson Echeverry, Marco Rizi
If Michael Butler (see below) is the only Metro to score in his only game, Echeverry is the only Metro to record an assist in his only game. The Seton Hall product was drafted by DC United but was quickly cut and picked up by the Metros, and played 74 minutes against Columbus, assisting on A.J. Wood's goal; he was cut soon after. He is currently an assistant coach at his alma mater. Rizi, a career indoor type and a full Canadian international, was signed in May, played 33 minutes against Columbus, and was cut in June.
1998: Wellington Sanchez, Carlos Ledesma, Joe Munoz
Sanchez was already covered, as the Ecuadorian international played ten minutes against Los Angeles before a trade to the same Galaxy for Eduardo Hurtado. The Argentine Ledesma, a long-time Rough-Rider, got his one shot in the big leagues at the tender age of 34, playing 18 minutes against Tampa Bay while on loan from his A-League club. Munoz was drafted 15th overall in that year's college draft out of Cal State - Bakersfield, and played a forgettable twelve minutes against Miami, where he missed a wide open net. He was cut in June and toiled around the minors for a number of years.
1999: Fernando Fernandes
Although the horrible 1999 season added only one player to this list, not only did Fernandes cut Lembryk's record to five minutes, he came with an interesting story. His lone appearance, against DC, came on the same day that he played for the Rough-Riders in the A-League, marking an incredibly rare double. Fernandes also played for the Connecticut Wolves.
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