Gideon Baah’s HJK continued their fantastic start to the year with a 2-1 victory over PK-35 Vantaa in the sixth round of the Finnish Cup on Wednesday.

However, while the reigning champions ultimately progressed, it wasn’t as straightforward as some might have expected and it took extra time for the domestic giants to ultimately secure the victory.

After an uninspiring first 45 minutes, Robin Lod opened the scoring for visitors HJK on 66 minutes.

For almost 20 minutes, it looked like they would progress, but Kosta Manev sent the home fans into delirium with an 82nd-minute equaliser.

HJK took time to recompose themselves and, unable to find a winner before the 90 minutes were up, the game went to extra time.

It wasn’t long before HJK reasserted their dominance and Japanese international forward Mike Havenaar ultimately restored their lead on 97 minutes. It was too much for the home side, who were unable to respond.

Baah continued his fine start to the season with a competent performance, playing the whole match.

The defender was present as HJK won the Finnish league cup in the domestic curtain-raiser—following a 2-0 triumph over RoPS at the beginning of April—and also featured for the Helsinki heavyweights in their league opener.

That match was a reunion with RoPS, and Baah’s side comfortably triumphed 3-1.

HJK are comfortably the most successful club in Finnish football, and Baah has happily helped the club to further success since arriving from FC Honka in 2014. Last year they won the double, claiming both the Veikkausliiga and the Finnish Cup.

He previously played for the likes of Asante Kotoko, Zaytuna and Sporting St. Mirren.