Glasgow, Scotland (My Sportsbook) - Goalie Allan McGregor stopped a penalty kick and Andrius Velicka scored as Rangers started its quest to end a three- year title drought in the Scottish Premier League with a 1-0 win over Falkirk on Saturday.

McGregor made the key save early in the second half, stopping a penalty kick by Falkirk's Michael Higdon.

"Obviously it was an important save for us," Rangers manager Walter Smith said.

Velicka, 29, was signed by Rangers in the offseason and rewarded his new club with the game winner in the 64th minute. Kyle Lafferty assisted the goal with a pass across the penalty area to Velicka, who finished from a few yards out.

Velicka, a Lithuanian national team striker, previously played in the SPL with Hearts from 2006-08 and also played this season with Viking FK in Norway.

It was an important win for Rangers, which let the league crown slip away late last season and was surprisingly eliminated from the Champions League earlier this week by one of Velicka's former clubs, FBK Kaunas of Lithuania. Kaunas won the second-round series on aggregate, 2-1.

"We didn't actually play all that well but managed to get the win which was the important thing especially after what happened during the week," Smith said.

Rangers last won the SPL in 2004-05. Celtic has won the last three titles.

In Saturday's other games, Hearts got off to a good start thanks to substitute Saulius Mikoliunas' winner in the 82nd minute of a 3-2 victory over Motherwell. David Clarkson scored two goals for Motherwell, which erased two deficits in the loss.

Kilmarnock also won its opener thanks to a late goal, 1-0 over Hibernian. Jamie Hamill scored the game's lone goal in the 80th minute.

Iverness got goals from Andrew Barrowman and Roy McBain as it opened its season with a 2-0 win over Aberdeen.

On Sunday, Celtic opens defense of its title when it hosts St Mirren. Promoted Hamilton opens its season Monday against Dundee United to close out the opening week's matches in Scotland.