AFP – Monaco's forward Chu Young Park (R) jumps for the ball with Lille's defender Adil Rami (L) during … 
PARIS (AFP) – A first half strike from South Korean forward Park Chu Young ensured leaders Lille suffered just their fourth defeat of the season as Monaco moved out of the drop zone in French league action on Saturday.
Lille have lost an important tie with a view to claiming their first league title in 53 years, as they could see their lead shaved to just one point should champions Marseille win at home to Toulouse on Sunday.
Third-placed Rennes' title ambitions were further hit as they fell 2-0 at midtable Brest in Saturday's late match, leaving them four games without a win and in danger of being overtaken by Lyon who host Lens on Sunday.
Lille have 58 points from 30 games with Marsille four points behind and Rennes on 51, one point ahead of former multiple champions Lyon.
The leaders were reduced to ten men after 37 minutes when Gervinho was given his marching orders, as their rivals showed a battling spirit which ensured they move out of the relegation zone into 14th place.
Monaco got off to an attacking start with Lille's defenders deflecting out an early effort from Cameroonian Benjamin Moukandjo after seven minutes.
But it was a nightmare return from injury for Lille's Adil Rami as his poor back pass to goalkeeper Mickael Landreau allowed Park to score the winning goal.
Park made no mistake, picking up the pass to fire past Landreau for his 11th goal of the season.
Although Lille monopolised the ball for long periods Rudi Garcia's side seemed tense and unable to create real chances.
And faced with the incessant Monaco pressure, Gervinho lost his cool and was sent off for a foul on Adriano eight minutes before the break.
Landreau did well to keep out a second Park effort four minutes into the second half.
Garcia substituted Tulio De Melo for Florent Balmont in the Lille attack after 59 and a minute later the move almost paid dividends but the Monaco defence proved solid as Stephane Ruffier kept his cool in the goal.
Monaco coach Laurent Banide hailed his side's efforts.
"It was a beautiful operation. Tactically we mastered the match and our task was helped by the sending off of Gervinho," he said.
"We've shown that we're still alive and kicking, and what's more we did it on front of our fans."
Lille counterpart Rudi Garcia insisted the Monaco goal was offside.
"Moukandjo was five metres offside," complained Garcia.
He added: "We're partly to blame for this defeat. We got off to a good start but we weren't all conquering. We asked for a strong start to the match and we didn't have it, but overall we didn't deserve to lose."
In Brittany, Brest opened with a superb first half goal from Nolan Roux under the eyes of Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish who had come to watch Rennes goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez.
But it wasn't to be Douchez's night as he could find no reply when Roux fired in from 35 metres to opening the score after 29 minutes. Bruno Grougi scored the second after 55 minutes as Brest move up two spots to 11th.
Elsewhere, Paris Saint Germain got back to winning ways with a 2-1 success at Caen as they stay fifth with 49 points with eight games to play.
Christophe Jallet opened for PSG after 13 minutes with Clement Chantome getting the second after 69 minutes. Romain Hamouma pulled one back for Caen three minutes into extra time.
European hopefuls Saint Etienne were held to a 2-2 draw by struggling Auxerre, while Bordeaux's European hopes took a knock as they were held to a goalless draw at home to tailenders Arles-Avignon.
Midtable Lorient and Sochaux drew 1-1 as did Valenciennes after a last-gasp goal by Marama Vahirua gave visiting Nancy a share of the points.
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