SANDY — The Columbus Crew are in some trouble.

It's not that a one-goal deficit is insurmountable in their first-round, home-and-home playoff series with Real Salt Lake, but the defending MLS Cup champs are in a major attacking rut and there doesn't appear to be an end in sight.

Columbus' shutout loss at Rio Tinto Stadium in Game 1 on Saturday was its fourth 1-0 loss in its past five league matches. The team's only win during that stretch was a 1-0 win at New England on Oct. 10.

With one goal scored in the past 450 minutes, the Crew will take the field this Thursday against Real Salt Lake in a must-win situation.

"During the season sometimes you're in a position where you're not winning and everything you do is not working, maybe that's the time we are in right now," said Columbus coach Robert Warzycha. "But we have a game at home, it's 1-0 and we have to score goals."

That has been easier said than done lately for the Crew.

Part of the struggles might be attributed to their busy fall schedule. In addition to their regular slate of league games, from Aug. 18 to Oct. 20 the Crew played six additional matches in the prestigious CONCACAF Champions League. They successfully advanced out of group play and into next April's quarterfinals, but fatigue might finally be catching up with the players, even though they aren't using it as an excuse.

Warzycha was proactive and took bold steps to try and fix the scoring troubles Saturday in Utah.

He benched reigning league MVP and leading scorer Guillermo Barros Schelotto against Real Salt Lake in hopes of injecting a little life in the attack. It was an interesting tactical decision, as was not starting veteran striker Alejandro Moreno.

"We didn't score any goals in the last (three) games and they were on the field, so I thought maybe we go with a different combination," said Warzycha.

The forward tandem of Steven Lenhart and Emilio Renteria wasn't much better only producing three total shots and only one shot on goal against RSL. It seems unlikely that Warzycha will keep Schelotto on the bench again, but many thought it was odd he benched him in the first place for a critical road playoff match.

Another player who might be able to inject a little life into the attack is Jason Garey. He's only started eight matches this year, but he's scored three goals against Real Salt Lake this season and four in his career.

Columbus' attack should get a boost this Thursday at Crew Stadium where it finished with the second best record in MLS behind Real Salt Lake. It outscored the opposition 25-15 at home, and it will be going up against an opponent that is among the worst road teams in the league.

Kickoff for the second game of the playoff series is Thursday at 6:30 p.m., a match that will be broadcast on ESPN2.

e-mail: jedward@desnews.com