SEATTLE -- Snubbed from a World Cup camp invite by Nigeria, Obafemi Martins was determined not to sulk about missing out on a trip to Brazil. Paul Dawson Womens Jersey . Martins said earlier this week his World Cup is the next two months playing for the Seattle Sounders. And it started with his finest goal since joining Major League Soccer. "I just want to score goals," Martins said. "Thats what I did and Im glad." Martins scored in the eighth minute to give the Sounders a 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night as both teams began a possible two-month stretch with some of the top players in the league off competing at the World Cup. Martins goal will be in the discussion for best of the season as the year progresses. His goal came from a shallow angle just 4 yards off the end line. Instead of settling Gonzalo Pinedas pass, Martins chipped the one-hopper with his left foot over San Jose goalkeeper Jon Busch and just inside the far post. It was the fifth goal of the season for Martins. Instead of the usual backflip that has accompanied his previous goals, Martins simply shook his head possibly a little surprised his difficult attempt found the net. "Its an athletic ability. You cant teach that. Its something that somebody has," Seattle coach Sigi Schmid said. "Its definitely as good a goal thats been scored here." Busch said shots from that shallow an angle usually end up coming at the near post or end up on top of the net. "So now he finds the back post. Tip your hat to him. Nothing you can do," Busch said. "Doesnt matter who you are or where you play, thats a good goal." The Sounders (8-3-1), who remained the MLS points leader, opened the whole stadium for the first time this year and drew 49,746, the largest crowd for any MLS game this season. Seattle was without three U.S. World Cup hopefuls, while the Earthquakes were minus two. Clint Dempsey, Brad Evans and DeAndre Yedlin were gone for Seattle and San Jose (2-4-4) played without Chris Wondolowski and Clarence Goodson. Also gone for the Earthquakes was Honduran hopeful Victor Bernardez. The Sounders could have been without Martins as well, but he was not selected to join Nigeria for its World Cup camp. Teaming with Dempsey at the top of Seattles attack, Martins has a resume this season that would have been worthy of a call. Instead hes being asked to be the offensive catalyst for Seattle with Dempsey gone. Seattle controlled the match and likely should have scored two or three more times if not for stellar goalkeeping by Busch. He stopped attempts from Lamar Neagle twice in a seven-minute span of the second half and turned away Osvaldo Alonsos attempt in the 84th minute. "My job is to make saves and keep us in the game. I did my job," Busch said. All the shots being peppered toward Busch made for a quiet night at the other end for Seattles Stefan Frei. With Wondolowski and Bernardez gone, the Earthquakes were missing seven of the 11 goals they have scored this season. The only player in San Joses starting lineup with a goal was midfielder Cordell Cato. San Joses only official shot on goal came on a free kick in the 90th minute from Khari Stephenson that Frei smothered. It was the second shutout of the season for Seattle and important after giving up five goals last Sunday to New England. "The commitment of the team this week after last week was playing to zero," Schmid said. Jeremy Hill Youth Jersey . For those who remember many years ago, the National Football League draft was more of a gathering of decision-makers with very few evaluating the very many and in many ways, hoping the decisions they make are correct. Tyler Eifert Jersey . The star pitcher allowed just four hits over eight sharp innings and the Texas Rangers beat Minnesota 5-0 on Saturday, handing the Twins their fifth straight loss.EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Adreian Payne returned and Keith Appling sat out. Just another night in this injury-plagued season for Michigan State, which is still right there at the top of the Big Ten standings. "I just feel that were in the hunt right now," Spartans coach Tom Izzo said. "After what weve gone through, were in the hunt, and thats what I told our players. Youve got to be in the hunt before you get a chance to win a championship." Payne scored 12 points in his first game back from a foot injury, and the ninth-ranked Spartans kept pace in the league race with an 82-67 victory over Penn State on Thursday night. Payne hadnt played since Jan. 7 because of a sprained foot, but although he didnt start Thursday, he did play 18 minutes, going 5 of 9 from the field. "It felt good to be back on the court," Payne said. "Overall, Im satisfied." The Spartans (20-3, 9-1 Big Ten) were still nowhere near full strength. Appling, who has been dealing with a wrist problem, sat out, and Branden Dawson is still out with a broken hand. Izzo said he has no idea if Appling will be ready for Sundays game at Wisconsin. "It just has been getting worse and worse," Izzo said. "He falls a lot. I told him hes got to go to gymnastics class -- learn how to fall without landing on your wrist. ... I know this, out of every guy Ive got on my team, hes the toughest. If he can play, hell play." Kenny Kaminski scored a career-high 19 points for the Spartans. Tim Frazier scored 22 points for Penn State (12-11, 3-7), which had its three-game winning streak snapped. Despite all of its injury woes, Michigan State is tied for first with rival Michigan atop the Big Ten. Everyone else in the conference is at least three games back. Payne missed Michigan States loss to Michigan late last month, and the crowd gave him a nice ovation when he repported to the scorers table to check in for the first time Thursday. A.J. Green Youth Jersey. Payne entered with 16:21 left in the first half and made his first shot, from just inside the three-point line. "It was like Willis Reed coming off the bench," Penn State coach Patrick Chambers said referring to the New York Knicks captains dramatic playoff appearance in 1970. "The crowd was going crazy -- standing ovation." Payne was active throughout the first half but also seemed tired at times. Perhaps that was to be expected after he was out for about a month. The Spartans went on an 11-0 run to take a 22-8 lead. A three-pointer by Kaminski made it 35-16, and the Nittany Lions never threatened. Matt Costello capped the first half with a dunk while being fouled with 12 seconds left. His three-point play gave Michigan State a 46-30 lead. It was 61-44 after Kaminskis 3-pointer from near the top of the key banked in off the glass, and a 3-pointer by Gary Harris pushed the lead to 20. Kaminski went 7 of 9 from the field, 5 of 6 from three-point range. That enabled the Spartans to withstand Applings absence and 5-for-16 shooting by Harris. Denzel Valentine had a big game for Michigan State with 11 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and four steals. "Early in the game he was, I guess Id say out of control there," Izzo said. "We took him out and settled him down a little bit, and then I thought he played phenomenal." Michigan State has won 20 games for the 14th time in the last 17 seasons. Frazier needed two assists to set Penn States career record, but he only managed one, tying the mark of 600 by Freddie Barnes. Frazier went 9 of 14 from the field and 3 for 4 from three-point range. The rest of the team was 2 for 18 from beyond the arc. Penn States D.J. Newbill scored 17 points but missed all seven of his attempts from 3-point range. cheap nfl jerseys authentic jerseys nfl wholesale wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '
