Andy Webster and Alan Gow made their first appearances for Rangers as Kris Boyd hit the winner in the friendly against LA Galaxy.

Boyd scored the only goal of the match early in the second half and Rangers' defence held up against a shaky Galaxy attack.

A day after closing out their Bank of Scotland Premier League campaign with a 2-0 loss to Aberdeen, Rangers took a flight to Los Angeles on Monday for the clash with the two-time former Major League Soccer champions, and Boyd's tidy finish in the second half made it a winning visit.

The match provided a welcome chance for manager Walter Smith to see Webster, on loan from Wigan, and Gow, playing as a guest ahead of his summer move from Falkirk, in action for Rangers.

Gow decided to play despite learning of the death of his grandfather earlier in the week, and made his entrance in place of Nacho Novo at half-time.

The long flight, coupled with no training sessions, looked to be taking a toll in the first half as Rangers produced little attacking threat at the Home Depot Center.

Tactically sound, Rangers nevertheless showed little creativity in the final third early on and put little pressure on Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin.

The hosts, meanwhile, had their dangerman on the bench as American international Landon Donovan did not play until the start of the second half.

After winning a free kick on the left flank in the fifth minute, Rangers swung the ball around and eventually saw it land at Alan Hutton's feet.

Hutton fired a cross into the penalty area but Cronin was in good position and plucked the ball from mid-air.

Charlie Adam had a couple of good chances before, in the 17th minute, Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor was called into action when Galaxy striker Santino Quaranta broke loose and ran into the penalty area.

Quaranta hit a 16-yard shot which McGregor managed to kick to safety.

Quaranta was booked in the 33rd minute when he grabbed a handful of Hutton's shirt and took down the Rangers defender.

Burke floated a dangerous cross to the front of the goal in the 41st minute but Galaxy defender Tyrone Marshall cleared.

Gow, wearing number 18, was a welcome sight for the Rangers supporters in the crowd of 15,259 after being given permission by Falkirk to play.

The Galaxy brought Donovan on to start the second half in place of first-year striker Robbie Findley. Donovan assumed his playmaking duties immediately.

Still, it was Rangers who struck first and decisively. Boyd opened the scoring in the 55th minute with a clinical finish from 12 yards.

Hutton sent a cross into the penalty area from the right flank and Boyd did not hesitate to shoot, beating the flat-footed Cronin.

Rangers made their second substitution in the 65th minute when Webster replaced Karl Svensson in the centre of defence. Barely a minute later Webster nearly made an embarrassing mistake when he almost let Donovan in inside the penalty area.

Webster, though, did well to poke the ball out of the area as Donovan closed in on him.

Galaxy midfielder Nathan Sturgis had a shot on goal in the 68th minute but McGregor parried it away.

Rangers made another substitute in the 85th minute when Jordan McMillan came on for Boyd, and Alan Lowing replaced Burke in the 88th minute.

Donovan had the chance to equalise in the 90th minute when he collected a cross inside the penalty area but fired over the bar, and with time running out Rangers made their final substitution as Ross Perry replaced Ian Murray.