Word

make headway, v.

obtain advantages, such as points, etc.
<verb.competition> freq. cnt.: 11 freq. cnt.: 4 freq. cnt.: 3 freq. cnt.: 2 freq. cnt.: 2

advance gain gain ground get ahead make headway pull ahead win

sample sentences

"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"
"win points"