TIJUANA – Fernando Arce stayed behind a few more minutes.

The Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintels midfielder delayed boarding a team bus to pose for photographs with fans, sign autographs and engage in a brief conversation or two.

That was what Arce did after an exhibition match at the Olympic Training Center earlier this month. The 32-year-old veteran is known for being a laid back guy. He's perceived as a hardworking player who doesn't come across as flashy despite having some success on the field throughout his 12-year career.

He's played his entire career in Mexico. Irapuato, Veracruz, Atlante, Morelia, Santos Laguna. They all have had Arce on their roster, with the core of his career coming with Morelia and Santos. He played in 123 games for the Monarcas from 2004 through 2007 and 127 for Santos from 2008 until he was signed by the Xolos last year.

And signing a deal to play in Tijuana might be his best move yet, outside of playing 42 matches and scoring seven goals with the Mexican national team.

Arce is home now. He was born in Tijuana. Playing at Estadio Caliente is another milestone for the Xolos' attacking midfielder.

"Of course I am comfortable here," said Arce, whose signing brought the Xolos some criticism at the time for bringing in an older player to a mostly young team. "I am at home with my family, close to my people. That certainly makes me happy."

And it makes Arce and the Xolos happy that the 5-foot-7 hometown kid with the shoulder length, wavy hair started the 2012 Apertura tournament with a score.

Arce scored the Xolos' first goal of the new season Friday night during Tijuana's 2-0 home win against Puebla. He sent a right-footed curling shot from just outside the penalty box, the ball bending from right to left. Puebla goalkeeper Alexandro Alvarez, diving to his left, got a piece of the ball but it was not enough to keep Arce's shot from crossing the goal line and into the right side of the net.

It was Arce's second goal with Tijuana since coming to the border town at the start of the Xolos' first tournament as member of the First Division.

"The goal felt good but it was also important that the team was able to get the three points," Arce said. "That's what we were looking for, to be on the winning side after Week 1."

And the Xolos can, in part, thank Arce for the win. He didn't only score against Puebla but he helped set up the second goal of the match.

His bending corner kick found Luis Garcia near Puebla's goal where Garcia headed in the pin-point pass for the score.

Arce nearly scored again in the second half against Puebla, sending a blast flying just inches over the crossbar.

When Arce wa not scoring or setting up an attack, he was meshing with the handful of new teammates.

Midfielder Cristian Pellerano is one of them. Pellerano, Leandro Augusto and Arce started in the midfield against Puebla. Pellerano appeared to fit right in despite having arrived to Tijuana less than two weeks earlier from Argentina.

"I felt comfortable playing with both of them," Arce said Augusto and Pellerano. "With Cristian, although he is coming from a different style of soccer, he's adapted rather quickly and I felt comfortable doing some things with him."

What Arce is doing is enjoying his time in Tijuana.

He has started in 35 games with the Xolos, earning the respect of coach Antonio Mohamed even before the Argentine coach took over the team last year.

"(Arce) is a quality player that brings leadership to our team," Mohamed said when assessing his players shortly after arriving in Tijuana in 2011. "With him, you know what you are getting."

What the Xolos have is a guy who doesn't mind staying behind for another few minutes to be the hometown kid.

ivan.orozco@sandiegored.com