Finland's top football teams have been competing this week in the early stages of Europe's club competitions — with varying levels of success.

HJK Helsinki are grabbing all the headlines on Friday morning after an incredible 5-0 win over NSÍ Runavík of the Faroe Islands saw them turn around a tie that seemed all but over after the first leg last week.

The Faroese side put four goals past HJK in the first game, with an early red card for midfielder Jere Kallinen tipping the game — and the tie — firmly in Runavík's favour.

But an early red card in the second leg seemed to galvanise the Finnish side, as Runavík were reduced to ten men after just 15 minutes.

HJK scored their first goal of the tie a few minutes later through Lucas Lingman, with Kai Meriluoto and Santeri Hostikka both adding to the scoresheet in the second half to put the Finnish team within touching distance of a remarkable recovery.

However, with the game entering stoppage time, HJK's European adventure for this season looked to be ending unusually early, until Giorgos Antzoulas popped up with a dramatic last minute equaliser to force the tie into extra time.

It took HJK just three minutes of that extra time to take the lead in the tie for the very first time, with Hostikka scoring his second of the night to cap an unprecedented comeback victory for a Finnish side in Europe — and send HJK through to the next qualifying round, where they will face Arda Kardzhali of Bulgaria.

"Just an incredible feeling. Miracles can happen to those who believe in them," HJK's under-pressure manager Miika Nuutinen told Yle after the game.

Ilves out, KuPs advance

There was no such miracle turnaround in Tampere however, as Ilves drew 0-0 with Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in the second leg of their Europa League tie.

Shakhtar had led 6-0 after the first game, played at a neutral venue in Slovenia due to the war in Ukraine.

Ilves now drop down to the Europa Conference League, where they are scheduled to play Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.

Earlier in the week, Finnish league champions KuPs drew 0-0 with Moldovan outfit Milsami Orhei to advance to the next stage of the Champions League qualifying round.

KuPs held a 1-0 lead from the first leg in Kuopio, which was ultimately enough to see them through.

They will now face Kazakhstani side Kairat Almaty in the next round, with the first leg taking place in Kuopio on Tuesday 22 July.