Park Chu-young Scores 2 in Win, Joins Nat`l Team for Asiad

Soccer striker Park Chu-young will join the South Korean national team at the Guangzhou Asian Games in China that open Friday.

As the lone striker for AS Monaco, he scored two goals in a 4-0 win over host AS Nancy in the French league at Stade Marcel Picot, following compatriot Park Ji-sung`s double in Manchester United`s 2-1 victory over the Wolverhampton Wanderers in England.

Park Chu-young scored his second goal of the season Wednesday, ending a 51-day drought since putting in his first goal of the season against Marseille Sept. 13, and his third and fourth goals Sunday.

When he joins the national team for the Asian Games, he will likely add momentum to South Korea’s bid to win the gold.

Park scored his first against Nancy thanks to an assist from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 82nd minute and his team leading, 2-0. He netted another in the 87th minute from another pass from Aubameyang in a one-one-one encounter with the goalie after cleverly avoiding the offside trap.

France`s biggest sports daily L`Equipe said, “Park Chu-young showed a more mature performance through accurate passing and perfect teamwork with his teammates. He will likely continue to grow in the French league and has set a good example as a foreign player.”

Upon hearing of Park Chu-young’s goals, Hong Myung-bo, coach of the national team for the Asiad, said, "I`m very pleased to see that he scored two goals at the highest level of scoring capacity just prior to joining the national squad to play in Guangzhou."

Immediately after the victory, Park Chu-young went to Paris and boarded a flight bound for Guangzhou. He did not play in South Korea’s first Group C game against North Korea Monday but will play against Jordan Wednesday.

creating@donga.com