Arsenal opened defense of its English soccer title with a 4-1 win at Everton on Sunday, making it 41 straight games without a loss in the Premier League.
Chelsea beat U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard and Manchester United 1-0 on Eidur Gudjohnsen's 15th-minute goal in the other league game. Howard appeared slow to react on a shot from inside the box.
Arsenal went 26-0-12 last season to finish well ahead of Chelsea and Manchester United. The previous top-division English team to go unbeaten in a season was Preston in 1888-89. Arsenal can tie Nottingham Forest's record of 42 consecutive games without a defeat - 1977-78 and 1978-79 - next week against Middlesbrough.
Scoring for Arsenal were Dennis Bergkamp, Jose Reyes, Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires. Lee Carsley had a goal for Everton after the Gunners led 3-0.
Arsenal played without two injured stars - midfielder Patrick Vieira, who rejected a move to Spanish power Real Madrid last week, and defender Sol Campbell.
Chelsea was coached by Jose Mourinho, who led FC Porto to the Champions League title in May. Mourinho clashed with United manager Alex Ferguson during a Champions League game last season, but the two shook hands Sunday. United was missing several regulars because of injury, suspension and the Olympics.
MLS: Dallas' Toni Nhleko scored on a header in stoppage time for a 1-0 win over the host MetroStars.
TENNIS
Atlanta teen makes mark
Scoville Jenkins, a 17-year-old from Atlanta, became the first African-American to win the 18s singles championship of the USTA Boys Nationals. Jenkins defeated Michigan teenager Scott Oudsema 7-5, 6-1, 6-3 in the final in Kalamazoo, Mich., earning Jenkins a spot in the U.S. Open. Officials said only one other African-American, James Blake of Tampa in 1997, has made it to the final of the USTA tournament since the event began in 1916.
VANCOUVER OPEN: Fifteen-year-old Nicole Vaidisova, who trains at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, defeated Laura Granville 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the WTA Tour final in Canada. In winning her first tour title, Vaidisova of the Czech Republic became only the second qualifier to win a tour singles event in 2004. At 15 years, 3 months, 23 days, she is the sixth-youngest singles champion in tour history.
HORSES
Golden Commander rolls
Golden Commander swung to the outside for room in the upper stretch and closed steadily in the final sixteenth of a mile to win the $114,700 West Point Handicap at Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Golden Commander overcame early traffic in the field of 12 for 3 year olds and up to launch his move along the rail at the quarter pole. He surged past Irish Colonial to take the lead and withstood a late charge from Foreverness to win by a half length.
SMART MOVE: Smarty Jones is moving into his new home this morning in Midway, Ky. The Pennsylvania-bred winner of this year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness left his home state Saturday for Three Chimneys Farm, where he will stand at stud. Owners Pat and Roy Chapman recently syndicated the popular 3-year-old colt for about $48-million.
BEST PAL STAKES: Roman Ruler overcame a slow start to win the $150,000 race by 7 lengths at Del Mar, Calif. Wetherly, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, fractured his left foreleg on the far turn and was euthanized.
MONMOUTH BREEDERS CUP OAKS: Capeside Lady roared to a 6 1/2-length victory in the $200,000 race at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.
