Sampson’s Debut Is a Firetrap

Same old, same old?

Almost.

Sure, the Galaxy could muster nothing more than a 1-1 tie against the last-place Chicago Fire in new Coach Steve Sampson’s debut.

Yes, the Galaxy’s winless streak was extended to six games.

And absolutely, the Galaxy was caught by the victorious Kansas City Wizards in a tie for first place in the Western Conference and it looked simply dreadful in the first half while extending its scoreless drought to 268 minutes.

But what the Galaxy found after halftime gave promise to the Home Depot Center crowd of 26,672 -- one of excitement. Remember, that was what Galaxy President and General Manager Doug Hamilton wanted from the club when explaining his decision to fire Sigi Schmid as coach Monday, despite the team having the best record in MLS at the time, and replace him with Sampson on Wednesday.

That slight breeze you may have felt Saturday evening was an anxious Sampson exhaling when Carlos Ruiz’s header in the 89th minute salvaged the draw.

“It was a huge exhale,” said Sampson, a former national team coach with the United States and Costa Rica who had just coached his first club-level match. “But I think there was even more of an exhale from my wife up in the press box.”

Actually, it was probably coming from Hamilton, who, from his seat up high had a clear view of the homemade sign that, in part, read, “Fuera Doug,” which translates loosely to “Get Out, Doug.” Hamilton was anything but a fan favorite on Internet message boards during the week.

“It’s been an emotional week,” Hamilton said. “I want to win championships. We believe we can do that in an entertaining way.”

The Galaxy (9-6-8) was saved, in an entertaining and spectacular way, when Ruiz converted Arturo Torres’ cross from the right flank, Ruiz getting a head on the ball and redirecting it past goalkeeper Henry Ring with one minute left.

And while it was Ruiz’s first goal since July 17, it was his 11th, which ties San Jose’s Brian Ching for the MLS lead.

“I’m not just trying to score at the end of games,” said Ruiz, who had both goals in Guatemala’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory at Canada on Wednesday. “I try to score early or help my teammates score.

“We were very nervous. Steve Sampson ... was unable to change the mentality of the team in only three days. That’s understandable.”

The Galaxy fans, though, may not have been so forgiving had Damani Ralph’s 67th-minute goal, a blistering shot past Galaxy defender Ryan Suarez and goalkeeper Kevin Hartman from the right wing, stood up for the Fire (5-9-8), which has won only one of its last 12 games.

It was Ralph’s team-leading 10th goal.

In the first half, the Galaxy was outshot, 8-4, overall, and 4-0 in shots on goal. The Galaxy forced the tempo and turned it around in the second half, outshooting the Fire, 12-4, overall, and 7-1 in shots on goal.

“I think we played some entertaining soccer for the fans in the second half,” Sampson said. “We have to play faster out of the back, keep the ball better.”

With the Galaxy enjoying a bye next week, Sampson has 14 days to tinker with his lineup.

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Galaxy forward Jovan Kirovski, who was injured in a 23rd-minute collision and left the game, was diagnosed with a mild concussion. He will have X-rays of his jaw today, Sampson said.