Hertha continues to worry: 1: 2 against Mainz
Created: 05/07/2022Updated: 05/07/2022 8:38 p.m
Hertha's Marc Oliver Kempf (l) against Mainz's Jonathan Burkardt.
© Soeren Stache/dpa
That was not enough for relegation.
Hertha BSC lost 1:2 against Mainz 05 and thus missed the rescue on their own.
On Sunday, however, Berliners may be able to celebrate in front of the television - if Bayern don't afford another lapse.
Berlin – Felix Magath must continue to worry with Hertha BSC and now keep his fingers crossed for FC Bayern Munich.
With the 1: 2 (0: 1) against 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday evening, the Berliners missed the possible early relegation in the Bundesliga.
Silvan Widmer (25th minute) and Stefan Bell (81st) spoiled the hoped-for celebration in front of their own fans for Hertha and their coach Magath, brought in as a rescuer in March.
Davie Selke (45 + 5) only managed to equalize with his penalty kick.
With a four-point lead over VfB Stuttgart, Hertha will be saved this weekend if the Swabians lose to Bayern on Sunday.
However: If Stuttgart manages to draw with the last lethargic champion, Hertha must score points at Borussia Dortmund on the last day of the game, otherwise there is a risk of 16th place and relegation to the second division third party.
The framework was actually right for a Berlin relegation party.
The Olympic Stadium with 71,548 spectators was almost sold out and the Hertha professionals surprised with a clever gesture.
Shortly before kick-off, they ended their fan boycott because of the jersey quarrel with their supporters after the derby defeat against Union Berlin in April and ran collectively into the east curve.
The spark jumped, the support was there.
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Magath once again relied on the trick of the all-blue away shirt, which worked as a lucky charm in the 2-0 win in the previous home game against Stuttgart.
As against the Swabians, Hertha immediately ran courageously.
Selke (5th) dropped the ball after Alexander Hack slipped, but the striker twisted.
As against Stuttgart, the Berliners quickly fell into a strange passivity - only this time without leadership in the back.
Mainz didn't have to try very hard to get the game under control and then received involuntary help from Marcel Lotka, of all people, who had been highly praised and who Magath compared to the young Oliver Kahn shortly before kick-off.
The Hertha goalkeeper's relatively harmless shot from a sharp angle slipped under his body and into the goal.
Hertha now needed a leader.
Kevin-Prince Boateng (27th) tried a shot from a distance.
However, the clear signal for more courage and attacking power did not come - until deep into the injury time of the first half.
Referee Patrick Ittrich decided on a penalty after studying the video, probably to the surprise of some Hertha fans.
In fact, Moussa Niakhaté kicked Berlin's Dedryck Boyata in the heel.
Selke sure converted.
The game remained a matter of nerves for Hertha in the second half.
There was also excitement: Ittrich refused a Mainz goal because of a handball from Karim Onisiwo (52nd).
Lotka saved with a great reflex when Anton Stach headed the ball (74').
Mainz pushed harder for the winning goal and was rewarded by a Bell header.
So Hertha was punished for its passivity.
Only then did the hosts wake up again.
Luca Wollschläger hit the post (89'), a goal by Selke was disallowed because of a foul (90'+1').
dpa