Rosales’ first goal of season lifts Sounders

SEATTLE – Mauro Rosales says he’ll still look to pass before he looks to score – unless he’s wide open so close to the net.

Rosales scored in the 63rd minute, and Bryan Meredith had a shutout in his first Major League Soccer start in the Seattle Sounders’ 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.

The Sounders (6-1-1) have won four straight and are unbeaten in their last five (4-1-0) in the best start in the franchise’s four-year history. Philadelphia (2-5-1) has lost two in a row.

Fredy Montero set up Rosales’ first goal of the season with a pass through the penalty area toward the right side. Rosales ran onto it and beat goalkeeper Zac MacMath to the left corner from 10 yards.

“The best part was a great pass from Fredy,” said Rosales, who missed four early-season games because of knee and ankle pain. “It was my chance in the game, and I tried to finish the best way. I was lucky it was good and we got the three points.”

Montero has factored into each of the five goals Seattle has scored against Philadelphia in three years, scoring once and assisting on the other four.

Meredith got the start in place of Michael Gspurning, who went out at halftime Wednesday night because of a right hip injury in a 2-0 home victory over Los Angeles. Meredith stepped in for the second half and preserved the shutout. Gspurning was listed as probable Saturday, but didn’t suit up.

“I wasn’t really too nervous and it was a relatively easy game for me,” said Meredith, who a year ago was playing in the third-tier Premier Development League for a team based in Bremerton. “The back four didn’t allow too much through. I don’t think I saw any shots on target.”