make headway

Verb

• obtain advantages, such as points, etc.
  • The home team was gaining ground
    
  • After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  gain , advance , win , pull ahead , get ahead , gain ground
• Antonyms: 
  fall back , lose , drop off , fall behind , recede