By Kim Jae-won
Staff Reporter
AS Monaco striker Park Chu-young scored his fifth goal of the season in France's Ligue 1, Saturday.
The South Korean struck from the right side of the area in the seventh minute after midfielder Camel Meriem released him in a home match against Valenciennes FC.
Park fired in another low drive with his left foot in the 32nd, but Valenciennes goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau saved. Park had another one-on-one chance seven minutes later, but he was declared offside.
In the second half, Valenciennes forward Johan Audel tied the game at 1-1 with a goal in the 67th. Monaco goalie Stephane Ruffier cleared a Rudy Mater header, but Audel hit home the rebound.
Valenciennes had chances to edge ahead. Midfielder Amara Karba Bangoura missed with a headed attempt five minutes after the equalizer and Mater produced a turning shot with his left foot, but they failed to breach the threshold.
Then Monaco forward Frederic Nimani saw a shot almost cross the goal line _ leaping over the goalkeeper Penneteau in the 79th _ but a Valenciennes defender cleared the effort.
The teams' efforts were ultimately in vain as the game ended all square.
But the result meant Monaco broke its string of three consecutive losses. The Mediterranean city-based club was ranked 11th with an 11-11-14 record in the 20-team table as of Sunday.
Park has scored five goals and set up five in his 29 appearances this season.
The former FC Seoul player moved to the French league when he signed a four-year contract in September last year.
Park debuted in the K-League with FC Seoul in 2005. The South Korean national team forward swept four awards that season _ Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Most Popular Player, and Top Scorer. He notched 12 goals and had three assists in 19 games.
Park will join the national team on May 28 for the 2010 South Africa World Cup qualifiers against the United Arab Emirates on June 7, Saudi Arabia three days later and then Iran on June 17.