However, Claudio Caniggia headed a second-half equaliser and with no further goals, to penalties it went.
After six kicks, nobody had failed.
But when Argentina's giant goalkeeper Goycoechea threw himself to the left to block Donadoni's effort, defeat was on the cards.
Maradona, on his home ground in Naples, then put Argentina 4-3 up making Aldo Serena's kick crucial.
Serena failed to hold his nerve and Goycoechea once more proved unbeatable. The home side were out.
Four years on in the USA, the scars had clearly not healed.
Italy were within a hair's breadth of their fourth World Cup, having held favourites Brazil to a goalless draw after extra-time in the final.
But Franco Baresi skied the opening effort of the shootout.