Supporters sing the team's anthem prior to the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, pool)
The Associated Press
BERLIN (AP) - Hertha Berlin coach Bruno Labbadia had to wait 5 1/2 months for his first game with supporters cheering on his side.
They didn't help.
Hertha lost at home to Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 in the Bundesliga on Friday, the first time fans were allowed to attend a soccer game in Berlin's Olympiastadion since coronavirus restrictions began in March.
Labbadia was appointed coach in April, when the league was still suspended. He had 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 the new season's first round.
Just 4,000 Hertha fans were allowed for Frankfurt's visit, and they arrived full of optimism after another summer of rebuilding at the club.
But the visitors dominated from the start and took a deserved lead through André Silva's penalty in the 30th minute, after the Portuguese forward was fouled by Hertha captain Dedryck Boyata.
Bas Dost made it 2-0 with a header to Daichi Kamada's free kick six minutes later, and Sebastian Rode grabbed Frankfurt's third with a fine strike in off the far post in the 70th.
Martin Hinteregger's own goal in the 76th was too little, too late, for Hertha.
Hertha's players wore jerseys with 'œfor Pauline'ť across them in an appeal to find stem cell donors for an eight-month-old girl with leukemia.
'œPauline's story shows how important it is that as many people as possible register so that lives can be saved,'ť Hertha board member Paul Keuter said.
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Hertha's Dodi Lukebakio lies on the pitch during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, pool)
The Associated Press
Frankfurt head coach Adi Huetter, left, and Hertha's head coach Bruno Labbadia, right, leave the infield for the half-time break during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, pool)
The Associated Press
Frankfurt's Bas Dost, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, pool)
The Associated Press
Frankfurt's scorer Sebastian Rode and his teammates celebrate their side's third goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, pool)
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Hertha's Maximilian Mittelstaedt, left, and Frankfurt's Djibril Sow, right, challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, pool)
The Associated Press
Frankfurt's Sebastian Rode, second right, scores his side's third goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, pool)
The Associated Press