V can be progress, in a way (7)
I believe the answer is:
against
'v' is the definition.
(v means versus in sports fixtures)
'progress in a way' is the wordplay.
'progress' becomes 'gain'.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'way' becomes 'st'.
'a'+'st'='ast'
'gain' placed into 'ast' is 'AGAINST'.
'can be' is the link.
(Other definitions for against that I've seen before include "Opposing" , "on the other side" , "Opposite to" , "Anti, touching" , "Versus - in contact with" .)