Joe Corona walked out of the tunnel at Qualcomm Stadium last week, marching to the middle of the field in line with his teammates.

He and the rest of the Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles starters held hands with children as they walked next to players from Club America.

It appeared to be a routine pregame drill. Such scenarios are common during pregame ceremonies. But for Corona, it was a little bit more than that.

"You just get a different feeling," Corona said about that moment. "You've thought about it before when you were younger.

Corona, the Xolos midfielder, recalled the days he used to attend matches at Qualcomm and watched children walk onto the field holding some of his favorite player's hands.

Now he is the one holding a child's hand, getting to play in front of a home crowd, his family and his friends.

Corona said his parents, sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and a handful of others were at the stadium to watch the Xolos play to a 1-1 draw against Club America in a friendly match last week. It was suited for Corona that the event was called the San Diego Clasico.

After all, Corona is a Sweetwater alum who lived in the South Bay for most of his young adult life while spending some time also living in Tijuana.

"It's a good experience to play in front of your family in a place where I used to come and watch Mexico and the United States play here," Corona said of playing at Qualcomm Stadium. "It's nice to play where you imagined you would play some day."

It was only a matter of time that day would come. At least that's how Corona sees it. He played at San Diego State for one semester before leaving for a tryout with the Xolos youth squads. He made the team and moved his way to the senior team.

Against Club America in the San Diego Clasico, Corona played the first 45 minutes. It marked the second time he played in San Diego as a pro. He was part of a friendly against the Los Angeles Galaxy at Torero Stadium in 2010.

Corona's teammate Alejandro Guido had a similar experience. Guido, a member of the Xolos' Under-20 squad saw some action against Club America. He came into the match as sub late in the second half.

It was his first action as a pro in his home town. The Mater Dei High grad is from Chula Vista.

"It was perfect," Guido said in Spanish. "It was just right. This is home. And to get to play here is just what I wanted. Everyone was here. My parents, aunts, cousins, you name it."

Guido has had his share of travels before ultimately landing in Tijuana, next to his hometown.

He had tryouts in Holland. He traveled with the United States Under-18 squad that played in last year's Under-17 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.

But as much as those accomplishments and travels are gratifying, perhaps they are not as pleasing as stepping on to a field in front of your family in your home town.

ivan.orozco@sandiegored.com

Joe Corona photo by K.C Alfred/UT San Diego