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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. 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. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Kyle-Wilber-Draft-Jersey/ . The Boston Celtics hadnt played since the All-Star break. So the Suns 100-94 victory over Boston Wednesday night was an uphill affair, with Phoenix relying on balance rather than its trademark high energy. Obi Melifonwu Jersey . Stevenson scored the first three goals of the game in the first period for Regina (35-22-6), which has won eight of its last 10 games. Patrick DAmico added two for the Pats, Braden Christoffer had a single and Morgan Klimchuk chipped in a goal and four assists. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Pj-Hall-Draft-Jersey/ . The 23-year-old restricted free agent appeared in all 48 games last season, finishing second among all Sabres skaters with 15 goals and 34 points. Kenny Stabler Jersey . He was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 5th. The 34-year-old Laval, Que. native has played six seasons with the Penguins. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-George-Blanda-Draft-Jersey/ . After Mariota was pushed around by Stanford on Thursday, finishing 20/34 with 250 yards and two touchdowns in Oregons Title hope-crushing defeat, hes going to need a poor performance or two from the remaining frontrunners to have a shot at the most coveted individual trophy in college sports.Sky Sports take a look back at the moments that made us smile from the Grand Slam of Darts... Wayne Mardles verdict MVG deserves more! The best check-outMichael Van Gerwen (obviously) and the BDOs Jeff Smith nailed 170 check-outs to scoop the prize for the Grand Slams most impressive finish. Van Gerwen saw off Robert Thornton in the knock-out stages with the help of his 170, while Smith got past Simon Whitlock in the group phase. Michael van Gerwen hits a 170 checkout... Have a look at Van Gerwens 170 finish in the video above.The biggest shockIt must be remembered that Phil Taylor had already safely navigated his route through to the knock-out stages but, nevertheless, it remained a shock to see him whitewashed 5-0. Darren Webster stunned Phil Taylor... The thrashing in the final group game was dished out by Darren Webster, the world No 41, who achieved a career-best result but still couldnt follow Taylor into the next phase of the Grand Slam. Its a funny old game.The best legChris Dobey and Jamie Hughes served up a classic leg - their knock-out game went to the wire, requiring a shoot-out to decide the winner with the scores locked at 9-9. Was this the most exciting leg in Grand Slam history? Hughes missed five match darts, and Dobey needed seven efforts before finally confirming the win in a breathless final leg.dddddddddddd Both players found themselves down at 24, but when Hughes missed three shots at double 12, Dobey finally made him pay.The legends...There was much to fawn over when Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld threw their finest arrows in the tournaments early stages, but ultimately a promising challenge from both players was humbly ended at the quarter-final stage. Phil Taylor beat Darryl Fitton 5-1 in his opening match Van Barneveld, particularly, was arguably the most in-form player after three group games. Having won all three at a canter, the veteran Dutchman appeared to be an outside bet to go all the way. Then he ran into the uncompromising Gary Anderson, losing at the same stage as Taylor against Peter Wright. For the PDC legends, its a timely reminder that their brilliance at the dart-board isnt enough to stave off the sports newer, younger leaders. A 164 check-out from Barney The BDO...The BDO had half of their representatives qualify for the knock-out stages, the same ratio as their PDC counterparts. But none of the BDO gang were able to progress into the quarter-finals, although there remains plenty for them to be proud of. Martin Wolfie Adams was another fun addition Glen Durrant, the organisations No 1, and Danny Noppert were the outstanding representatives. Durrant lost a hard-fought match against Van Barneveld and Noppert, a promising Dutch thrower, almost pulled off a major shock but fell to Anderson in a last-leg shoot-out. Well see more of these guys, without a doubt.The World Darts Championship at Ally Pally is live on Sky Sports between December 15 - January 2. 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