Hertha fans' first game back is loss to Frankfurt

Hertha Berlin coach Bru Labbia h to wait 5 1/2 months for his first game with supporters cheering on his side. y didn’t help.

Hertha lost at home to Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 in Bundesliga on Friday, first time fans were allowed to attend a soccer game in Berlin’s Olympiastion since coronavirus restrictions began in March.

Labbia was appointed coach in April, when league was still suspended. He h to wait till May 16 for his debut. His first nine league games were all played without spectators last season, before a limited number of Werder Bremen fans were allowed see visiting Hertha’s 4-1 win in new season’s first round.

Just 4,000 Hertha fans were allowed for Frankfurt’s visit, and y arrived full of optimism after ar summer of rebuilding at club.

But visitors dominated from start and took a deserved le through André Silva’s penalty in 30th minute, after Portuguese forward was fouled by Hertha captain Dedryck Boyata.

Bas Dost me it 2-0 with a heer to Daichi Kama’s free kick six minutes later, and Sebastian Rode grabbed Frankfurt’s third with a fine strike in off far post in 70th.

Martin Hinteregger’s own goal in 76th was too little, too late, for Hertha.

Hertha’s players wore jerseys with “for Pauline” across m in an appeal to find stem cell dors for an eight-month-old girl with leukemia.

“Pauline’s story shows how important it is that as many people as possible register so that lives can be saved,” Hertha board member Paul Keuter said.

Im credits: AP