Ryan Giggs of Manchester United (11) scores a goal during their Champions League semi-final first leg soccer match against Schalke 04 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, April 26, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

* United too strong for Schalke in mismatch

* Giggs, Rooney put United on brink of final

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany - Manchester United overwhelmed Schalke 04 as they strolled to a 2-0 victory in their Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday in a one-sided match that left the home fans stunned.

Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney scored in the space of two second-half minutes and United could have had more but for the superb goalkeeping of Manuel Neuer with the final score hardly reflecting the huge difference in quality between the sides.

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Alex Ferguson's team were superior in all aspects of the game and United - three-time winners of Europe's top prize - go into the return leg having gained a huge advantage after dominating the dazed Germans for about an hour.

"It was a top performance and credit to the players for their belief in themselves and the trust in each other," Ferguson told reporters. "It ranks as one of our best (performances in Europe)."

United shot out of the blocks and could have had three or four goals by the end of the first half were it not for the heroics of Neuer who single-handedly kept Schalke in the game.

Whether attacking from the right, left or centre, the home side's defence looked sluggish with United's players having time and space to create numerous chances.

Mexican Javier Hernandez, nicknamed Chicharito, and South Korean Park Ji-Sung saw their early efforts blocked by Neuer but it was just the start of a prolonged United assault that ended only after the visitors took their foot off the gas.

Neuer twice denied Giggs late in the first half but the Welshman, picked out in the box when Rooney flicked a pass through Joel Matip's legs, was on target in the 67th minute.

Schalke 04's Raul (L) is comforted by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson following their Champions League semi-final first leg soccer match in Gelsenkirchen, April 26, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]