Egypt and Cote d'Ivoire forwards Mohamed Salah and Gervinho scored two sublime goals for Roma as they defeated hosts and title hopefuls Fiorentina 1-2 to go top of the Italian Serie A table on Sunday night.

Salah, who joined Roma after rejecting a Fiorentina offer to extend his stay at the club following a successful long spell, was heavily booed by the Viola fans, but the rising Pharaoh responded in fine fashion, curling a shot home after just six minutes.

The resurgent Gervinho then piled more woe on the hosts when he went on an incredible solo run from his own half before beating the goalkeeper in the 34th minute.

Senegal star Khouma Babacar grabbed a stoppage time consolation for Fiorentina.

Salah was later sent off in the final moments of the game following a second yellow that he earned protesting the first caution. Roma coach Rudy Garcia thought the referee's decision was harsh.

"I spoke to Salah before the match, I saw that he was very calm and tonight the only black mark on his match is the sending off, which I think is very severe," Garcia said after the game.

"If that gesture deserved a red then there would be so many dismissals.

"Salah played his game under a lot of pressure. It wasn\'t easy for him, or for Gervinho, to defend on the flanks and then go on the counter, but they did it very well."

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