WASHINGTON - Marinette Pichon, last year's MVP in the WUSA,

kept France alive in the Women's World Cup on Wednesday night,

scoring in the 84th minute in a 1-0 victory over South Korea.

With her team on the brink of elimination, Pichon controlled the

ricochet of Elodie Woock's free kick from the left wing and drove

home the winning goal from 12 yards. It was the first Women's World

Cup goal for France, which got shut out 2-0 in its debut game last

Saturday against Norway.

A tie would have ended any chance of France (1-1) advancing to

the quarterfinals. Now they are tied for second in Group B with

Norway, with a final first-round game against first-place Brazil on

Saturday.

South Korea (0-2), also making its first World Cup appearance,

has yet to score in two games. They will finish group play against

Norway on Saturday.

Pichon played for the Philadelphia Charge of the WUSA. She won

the MVP award in 2002 after scoring 14 goals in 18 games.