Seaman tipped over Ronaldinho's header to make save (3)
I believe the answer is:
bar
'save' is the definition.
(both can mean 'except')
'seaman tipped over ronaldinho's header' is the wordplay.
'seaman' becomes 'ab' (short for able seaman).
'tipped over' says the letters should be written backwards.
'header' says to take the initial letters (in a down clue, the letter at the top of the word).
The first letter of 'ronaldinho' is 'r'.
'ab' backwards is 'ba'.
'ba'+'r'='BAR'
'to make' is the link.
(Other definitions for bar that I've seen before include "Rigid piece of metal" , "In Mississippi, measure" , "Impediment" , "Obstacle" , "Barristers - band" .)