THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GLASGOW, Scotland — Rangers opened defence of their Scottish Premier League title on Saturday with a 4-1 win over visiting Falkirk.
Falkirk equalized after Lee McCulloch put the home side ahead in the 14th, but Kenny Miller struck twice and Steven Naismith rounded off the scoring with seven minutes left to give Rangers a convincing victory.
McCulloch made it 1-0 with a 35-yard shot, Miller scored with a header and a left-foot shot, and Naismith converted from a pass by Steve Davis.
Celtic began its attempt to regain the title from its fiercest rival with a 3-1 win at Aberdeen.
Aiden McGeady scored twice before Scott McDonald, last season’s leading scorer for the Bhoys, made it 3-0 at halftime in Tony Mowbray’s first league game as manager.
McGeady scrambled the ball over the line in the 28th and curled in a 20-yard shot 13 minutes later. McDonald scored with a shot from inside the area after the home defence failed to clear the ball, with Sone Aluko getting Aberdeen’s only goal in the 61st.
Also Saturday, Hibernian beat St. Mirren 2-1, Kilmarnock beat Hamilton 3-0 and St. Johnstone drew 2-2 with visiting Motherwell.