The 2022 Portland Timbers season was the club's 36th season of existence and the 12th season for the Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. The season covers the period from the end of the Timbers' last match in MLS Cup 2021 to the team's end of the season in October 2022.
Background The Timbers finished fourth in the Western Conference in the 2021 MLS season, advancing to the MLS Cup Final (which they hosted) where they lost on penalties to New York City FC.
Most of the season focused on fan discontent, with many supporters withholding season ticket pledges and attendance lagging—partially due to the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and cost-cutting, but also due to a large-scale abuse scandal coming from the NWSL and sister club Portland Thorns, which directly impacted the Timbers organization.
After a report commissioned by U.S. Soccer dropped on October 3, even more fan pressure began to mount. The report named the three men at the helm of the Timbers/Thorns organization as part of the problems brought about in the scandal: club owner Merritt Paulson, Timbers GM Gavin Wilkinson (who also held the same role for the Thorns until stepping aside in 2021), and president Mike Golub. The report cited Wilkinson's treatment of a former Thorns player and endorsement of disgraced ex-coach Paul Riley—who was accused of sexual abuse by multiple players—as well as Golub's sexually inappropriate conduct toward another former Thorns coach and Paulson's failure to act upon these accusations. The report led to Paulson stating he would recuse himself, Wilkinson and Golub of Thorns duties. On October 5, the club fired both Wilkinson and Golub, with Ned Grabavoy assuming Timbers roster decisions in the interim.
The Timbers were in position at the final matchday to qualify for the playoffs, but held off qualification to the final matchday due to losing at home against Los Angeles FC (which helped LAFC clinch the Supporters' Shield). They were eliminated by Real Salt Lake in the last game of the season following a 3–1 defeat at America First Field, finishing the season on 46 points, one fewer than RSL.
Roster
Name Nat Positions Since Date of birth (age) Signed from Goalkeepers 1 David Bingham GK 2022 LA Galaxy 2 0 0 31 Aljaž Ivačič GK 2019 NK Olimpija Ljubljana 32 0 0 41 Justin Vom Steeg GK 2022 LA Galaxy 0 0 0 Defenders 5 Claudio Bravo LB 2020 Banfield 26 0 2 14 Justin Rasmussen LB 2022 Grand Canyon University 9 0 0 13 Dario Zuparic CB 2020 HNK Rijeka 30 0 0 18 Zac McGraw CB 2020 Army 22 1 0 33 Larrys Mabiala CB 2017 Kayserispor 21 0 1 25 Bill Tuiloma CB 2017 Marseille 30 6 2 2 Josecarlos Van Rankin RB 2021 Guadalajara 24 1 0 28 Pablo Bonilla RB 2020 Deportivo La Guaira 6 0 0 29 Juan David Mosquera RB 2022 Independiente Medellín 3 0 0 Midfielders 20 George Fochive DM 2021 Bnei Yehuda 2 0 0 21 Diego Chara DM 2011 Deportes Tolima 28 0 2 24 David Ayala DM 2022 Estudiantes 21 0 0 22 Cristhian Paredes DM 2018 América 27 2 2 19 Eryk Williamson CM 2018 Maryland Terrapins 22 0 5 30 Santiago Moreno W 2021 América de Cali 34 7 6 98 Blake Bodily W 2020 Portland Timbers 2 3 0 0 16 Diego Gutierrez W 2022 Creighton Bluejays 1 0 0 44 Marvin Loría W 2019 Saprissa 28 2 1 10 Sebastián Blanco AM 2017 San Lorenzo 32 7 7 Forwards 23 Yimmi Chará W 2020 Atlético Mineiro 34 4 3 27 Dairon Asprilla W/ST 2015 Atlético Nacional 29 10 2 99 Nathan Fogaça ST 2022 Coritiba 11 2 0 9 Felipe Mora (SEIL) ST 2020 Pumas UNAM 7 1 0 11 Jarosław Niezgoda ST 2020 Legia Warsaw 30 9 2 17 Tega Ikoba ST 2022 Portland Timbers 2 2 0 0
(HG) = Homegrown Player (GA) = Generation Adidas Player (DP) = Designated Player (L) = On Loan to the Timbers (LO) = Loaned out to another club (SEIL) = Season-ending Injury List
Player and staff transactions
In DatePositionPlayerPrevious clubNotesSourceJanuary 25, 2022GK Justin Vom Steeg LA Galaxy IIFebruary 1, 2022MF David Ayala EstudiantesFebruary 17, 2022DF Justin Rasmussen Grand Canyon Antelopes2022 MLS SuperDraft pickFebruary 25, 2022FW Diego Gutierrez Creighton2021 MLS SuperDraft pickMay 5, 2022FW Nathan Fogaça Portland Timbers 2July 27, 2022DF Juan David Mosquera Independiente Medellín
Out DatePositionPlayerDestination clubNotesSource January 21, 2022 GK Jeff Attinella N/A N/A N/A Retired December 13, 2021 MF Jorge Gonzales Louisville City FC N/A N/A Declined Option December 13, 2021 DF/MF Ismaila Jome Portland Timbers 2 N/A N/A Declined Option December 13, 2021 MF Manny Perez Louisville City FC N/A N/A Declined Option January 20, 2022 MF Diego Valeri Club Atlético Lanús N/A N/A Mutual Agreement February 10, 2022 ST / W Andy Polo Club Universitario de Deportes N/A N/A Contract Terminated
2022 MLS SuperDraft picks
PositionPlayerCollegeOther clubNotesSource1 (27) Justin RasmussenDFGrand CanyonOrange County SC U-232 (55) Julian BravoDFSanta ClaraFC Golden State3 (83) Sivert HaugliDFVirginia TechDes Moines Menace
Non-competitive Preseason friendlies The Timbers began their preseason on January 18, 2022. On January 26, 2022, the Timbers announced that the club will host a Preseason Tournament.
Competitions Major League Soccer
Standings Western Conference
Overall
Matches All matches are in Pacific time
U.S. Open Cup
Top scorers The list is sorted by shirt number when total goals are equal. PlayerMLSMLS Cup PlayoffsChampions LeagueTotal
References