At Hertha BSC, the supporters are more or less obliged to stay in the stadium until the last minute via the club anthem.

Nothing with early departure, “We're not going home only” sings city bard Frank Zander.

The fans, who were unfortunately tried and tested anyway, would have been spared many disappointments had they not complied with the request.

This season, a rule of thumb applies to Hertha BSC football games that does not invite you to linger in the Olympic Stadium forever. The longer an encounter lasts, the greater the likelihood of an accident from Berlin's point of view. Against VfL Wolfsburg, Hertha lost 2-1 through a late conceding goal, against Leverkusen the opponent equalized in the 90th minute (1: 1).

Anyone who thought it couldn't get more painful has now been taught better. The 97th minute was already running against FC Augsburg, as long as Hertha's defense had defied the attacks and was in the lead thanks to a goal by former Augsburg player Marco Richter. One last ball flew again towards the Berlin penalty area, finely lifted, but not impossible to defend. A bland header would have been enough, promoted into the wide circle, left or right out of bounds, it doesn't matter.

But it happened like so often in the past few weeks.

No Herthan rose the highest, but Michael Gregoritsch, from Augsburg, and lo and behold, the game ended 1: 1.

It was the last action of the game.

"If the opponent attacks with a lot of vigor and heads a goal at the last moment, that's deserved," said Hertha's coach Pal Dardai, who slowly has to feel in a regularly recurring endless loop.

"It's no longer a coincidence," said Dardai.

"That was a mistake on our part"

Without conceding late goals, Hertha would be in secure midfield.

Then Dardai would be the man of the hour, celebrated by fans and the media, and would not have to explain, like a Berlin version of actor Bill Murray, why the three points didn't work out again.

"The final concentration, the will, the sacrifice for the team, everything that is painful, we have to improve," said Dardai, who also denied his team a certain cleverness.

Shortly before the goal, there was a commotion at the corner flag, as a result of which Hertha's co-trainer Andreas Neuendorf was expelled from the field.

“That was a mistake on our part.

In the 95th, 96th minute at the corner flag, everyone is freaking out, you are not allowed to do that.

It will take too long to calm down, ”said Dardai.

Hertha's coach is not in good shape because of four games without a win and 14th place in the table.

After the annoyingly lost points, healthy sleep is no longer possible.

"That was the first night I woke up at three," says Dardai.

In the following games against the direct competitors Stuttgart and Bielefeld, points urgently need to be scored.

"Now we're in a situation where we can't lose in Stuttgart and we have to win against Bielefeld," said Dardai.

Hertha's trainer would like to have collected twenty points by Christmas.

With such a yield, it would be easier to sleep again.