See Clint Dempsey Get Kicked in Face -- and Keep Playing

— -- Clint Dempsey soldiered on after a nasty kick to the face today during USA's first World Cup match against Ghana.

He was back on the pitch minutes after John Boye's leg whacked him in the nose when the pair went up for a header about 30 minutes into the game.

Dempsey, captain of the men's national team, had already wowed fans when he scored the fastest goal in U.S. World Cup history, 34 seconds into the match. It was also the sixth all-time fastest goal in World Cup history since 1930.

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But Dempsey's bloody nose isn't the only setback Team USA is facing. Jozy Altidore was taken off the field on a stretcher in the first half. He suffered a strained left hamstring, U.S. Soccer confirmed.

The score was 1-0 at halftime. The Americans won the game, 2-1.