THIRD TIME LUCKY!

COUPLE TRAVEL 9,000 MILES FROM AUSTRALIA TO SEE PALACE WIN FA CUP FINAL

- By LUKE DONNELLY

IT might be a few days since Crystal Palace beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final, but South Londoners aren't quite ready to halt their celebrations.

"This is the best moment ever as a Palace fan," Mick Mantell, 70, told MyLondon. "We've been waiting so long for success like this."

An early goal from Eberechi Eze was enough to separate the two sides as Crystal Palace pulled off a surprise 1-0 win on Saturday (May 17). Mick, along with his wife Ann, 68, made the 9,000-mile journey from Perth, Australia to watch the Eagles end their 120-year trophy drought at Wembley Stadium.

They both attended the FA Cup final losses against Manchester United in 1990 and 2016, but felt a different optimism the third time around. "It was very nerve-wracking," Mick continued. "Being the underdog we were just hoping to stop them from scoring.

"I thought when we conceded the penalty the tide could turn against us, but when Dean Henderson made that crucial save I knew it was our day. You ride your luck in games like this."