# 2022 Portland Timbers season

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

    As of February 17, 2022
| No. | Name | Positions | Since | Date of birth (Age) | Signed from |
| Goalkeepers |||||||||
| 26 | Hunter Sulte (HG) | GK | 2019 | (2002-04-25) April 25, 2002 (age 22) | Portland Timbers 2 |
| 31 | Aljaž Ivačič | GK | 2019 | (1993-12-29) December 29, 1993 (age 31) | NK Olimpija Ljubljana |
| Defenders |||||||||
| Midfielders |||||||||
* (HG) = Homegrown Player
* (GA) = Generation Adidas Player
* (DP) = Designated Player
* (INT) = Player using International Roster Slot
* (L) = On Loan to the Timbers
* (LO) = Loaned out to another club
* (SEIL) = Season-ending Injury List

## Player and staff transactions
### In

| Date | Position | Player | Previous club | Notes |
| January 25, 2022 | GK | Justin Vom Steeg | LA Galaxy II | |
| February 1, 2022 | DF | David Ayala | Estudiantes | |
| February 17, 2022 | MF | Justin Rasmussen | Grand Canyon Antelopes | 2022 MLS SuperDraft pick |
| February 25, 2022 | FW | Diego Gutierrez | Creighton | 2021 MLS SuperDraft pick |

### Out

| Date | Position | Player | Destination club | TAM | GAM | Notes |
| 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 |
* ^ Andy Polo's contract was terminated in response to domestic violence allegations.

### 2022 MLS SuperDraft picks

| Round | Position | Player | College | Other club |
| 1 (27) | Justin Rasmussen | DF | Grand Canyon | Orange County SC U-23 |
| 2 (55) | Julian Bravo | DF | Santa Clara | FC Golden State |
| 3 (83) | Sivert Haugli | DF | Virginia Tech | Des 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.
Win  Draw  Loss  Upcoming fixture

## Competitions
### Major League Soccer
#### Standings
##### Western Conference

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 6 | Minnesota United FC | 34 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 48 | 51 | −3 | 48 | Qualification for the first round |
| 7 | Real Salt Lake | 34 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 47 | Qualification for the first round |
| 8 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 53 | 53 | 0 | 46 | |
| 9 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 34 | 12 | 15 | 7 | 40 | 57 | −17 | 43 | Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions League |
| 10 | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 46 | 57 | −11 | 43 | |
* ↑ Canadian clubs cannot qualify for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League through the MLS regular season or playoffs.
* ↑ as 2022 Canadian Championship winners.

##### Overall

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 13 | Orlando City SC (U) | 34 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 44 | 53 | −9 | 48 | Qualification for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League |
| 14 | Real Salt Lake | 34 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 47 | |
| 15 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 53 | 53 | 0 | 46 | |
| 16 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 10 | 8 | 16 | 46 | 41 | +5 | 46 | |
| 17 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC (V) | 34 | 12 | 15 | 7 | 40 | 57 | −17 | 43 | Qualification for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League |
* ↑ As 2022 U.S. Open Cup champions (USA4)
* ↑ Canadian clubs cannot qualify for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League through the MLS regular season or playoffs.
* ↑ As 2022 Canadian Championship winners (CAN1)

##### Matches

All matches are in Pacific time

### U.S. Open Cup

Win  Draw  Loss  Upcoming fixture

### Top scorers

The list is sorted by shirt number when total goals are equal.
| Rnk | Pos | No. | Player | MLS | MLS Cup Playoffs | Champions League | Total |