Soccer
Roundup: Arsenal extends record streak to 44

By The Associated Press

CHRIS RADBURN / AP Arsenal's Ashley Cole, foreground, and Norwich City's Gary Doherty compete for the ball during yesterday's English Premier League match in Norwich, England. Arsenal improved its record unbeaten streak to 44 league matches.

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LONDON — Arsenal extended its record unbeaten streak to 44 league matches with a 4-1 victory yesterday at Norwich, and American defender Jonathan Spector made his English Premier League debut in Manchester United's 1-1 tie at Blackburn.

Jose Antonio Reyes, Thierry Henry and Robert Pires scored in the first half and Dennis Bergkamp added another goal for Arsenal (4-0), helping the defending league champion maintain first place.

Darren Huckerby scored for Norwich (0-2-2).

"The first half was the key to the game, then in the second half Norwich gave it a real go and you have to give them credit," Henry said.

Alan Smith scored in the fourth minute of injury time for Manchester United (1-1-1), beating American goalkeeper Brad Friedel with a shot from the center of the penalty area. Replays showed a hand ball by Man U's Louis Saha on the play.

"It definitely bounced off Saha," said Friedel, whose team dropped to 0-2-2. "I don't need to see the replay. It happened right in front of me."

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said, "The goalkeeper must have made more than half a dozen stops but we should have put more of our chances away."

Ferguson told Sky Sports that Saha appeared to use his hand before Smith's goal.

Manchester United started U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard and Spector, an 18-year-old from Arlington Heights, Ill. Spector had appeared for Manchester United previously in the Community Shield and Wednesday's UEFA Champions League qualifier.

United's Kleberson had two chances to tie the match in the first half. Blackburn's Norwegian winger Morten Gamst Pedersen deflected a shot wide, while the Brazil midfielder then struck a 30-yard shot that Friedel had to tip over the bar.
 
Chelsea (4-0) beat Southampton 2-1. Southampton's James Beattie scored after 12 seconds with the fourth-fastest goal in Premiership history but netted an own-goal in the 34th. Frank Lampard converted a penalty kick in the 41st minute for Chelsea.

Manchester City (1-2-1), which started U.S. captain Claudio Reyna, routed Charlton 4-0 as Nicolas Anelka scored twice.

Aston Villa rallied from 2-1 behind to beat visiting Newcastle 4-2, increasing the pressure on Magpies manager Bobby Robson. There has been speculation that former England coach Robson might be fired.

In other games, it was Everton over West Bromwich and Middlesbrough over Crystal Palace by 2-1 scores. Tottenham beat Birmingham 1-0.

Major League Soccer

United 0, at Revolution 0

Matt Reis had seven saves for New England (5-9-9) and goalkeeper Troy Perkins made two saves for D.C. United (6-8-9).

D.C. United, which outshot New England 12-6, remains in third place and three points ahead of the Revolution in the Eastern Conference with seven games remaining in the regular season.

At Burn 4, Fire 1

Eddie Johnson scored two goals and Ronnie O'Brien added a goal and two assists to lead Dallas (9-9-5) over Chicago (5-10-8) .

Nate Jacqua scored for the Fire, which is a point behind New England for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Rapids 0, at Earthquakes 0

Colorado's Joe Cannon made two key saves on shots by former teammate Landon Donovan to help the Rapids (8-7-9) tie San Jose (8-7-7).

Pat Onstad recorded his fifth shutout of the season for the Earthquakes.