A fairly comfortable preseason finale saw the Timbers put three unanswered goals past Real Salt Lake one week before the start of their 2022 MLS regular season.
The Timbers lined up with the starting XI that we will likely see in their season opener, considering the growing list of injuries the team is currently dealing with. Currently, Larrys Mabiala, Dario Zuparic, Felipe Mora, and Eryk Williamson are all dealing with multi-week injury rehabilitations, and Sebastian Blanco and Tega Ikoba haven’t played a single minute of the Timbers’ preseason.
What does that mean? Expect to see a heavy dose of Zac McGraw and Bill Tuiloma at center back in front of Aljaz Ivacic, and an attacking line of Niezgoda, Yimmi Chara, Santiago Moreno, and Dairon Asprilla for at least the first couple weeks of the MLS season.