Hertha Berlin crashed to their fourth consecutive league defeat after conceding twice away to Mainz.

Lucien Favre's side had looked on course to end their early-season jitters as they held firm after midfielder Maximilian Nicu had put them ahead with 50 minutes played.

Things turned sour though with 10 minutes to go when they conceded a penalty which was duly dispatched by Andreas Ivanschitz and the capital club's desperate start to the season got worse when Ivorian striker Aristide Bance struck a winner five minutes from the end.

Hertha competed for the Bundesliga title for most of last season before finishing fourth, but such ambitions have been put on the backburner this time around following their poor start.

That was evident in their first-half display as the visitors opted to soak up pressure.

The tactic worked as newly-promoted Mainz, who won 2-1 against Bayern Munich in their last home match, failed to muster a meaningful shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.

Ivanschitz had a half chance after 39 minutes but he miscued a shot from the edge of the area under pressure before a neat interchange of passes finished with Andre Schurrle heading harmlessly over.

Berlin got reward for their discipline five minutes after half-time when Cicero's cross into the area found Nicu who was given ample time by the home defence to pick his spot from 10 yards.

Mainz attempted to hit back with Bance forcing Jaroslav Drobny into a low save from a header after 55 minutes.

The home side were awarded a penalty with 80 minutes on the clock when Adriano Grimandi was felled in the area by Nemanja Pejcinovic. Ivanschitz showed a cool head to level matters by placing his spot-kick into the bottom-left corner.

Five minutes later Mainz were ahead for the first time in the game when Bance controlled a cross from the right before lashing his shot across a diving Drobny and into the top-left corner.