The Kyrgyz Republic champions were staring down the barrel of elimination at 1-0 down with just over half an hour remaining at Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, but the pendulum swung on Vahyt Orazsahedov's 57th minute equaliser, before Mirlan Murzaev sealed all three points with a thunderous strike 13 minutes from time.
Now three points behind Istiklol, Dordoi's win keeps them in contention, and - while they still require further positive results from both themselves and others to advance - head coach Krestinin said the Bishkek-based side would fight all the way.
'I want to congratulate all of the players for the victory; a strong-willed and challenging victory," said the Russian boss, who took the Kyrgyz Republic national team to the AFC Asian Cup Round of 16 in January.
"In the first half we were very nervous and we made a lot of mistakes in the opposite half of the pitch. We allowed a sloppy goal, but in the second half we played precisely and also increased the pressure on our opponent's goal.
"Well done to my players. They fought until the end, and we will fight until the end (in this group)."
Krestinin's words were echoed by Dordoi captain Kursanbek Sheratov, who played all 90 minutes in Wednesday's match.
Sheratov, who also featured in Dordoi's unsuccessful attempts to the reach the knockout stage in 2017 and 2018, said he hoped the 2-1 success over the two-time AFC Cup runners-up would provide the spark his side needed in this year's competition.
"In the group we've now got four points, but we are working for more because we have two more matches to come in the future," he said.
"We must win both matches now to give ourselves the chance to get out of the group."
Sheratov confirmed head coach Krestinin had been disappointed in Dordoi's first-half performance, and revealed his role in their crucial recovery after the interval.
"For the first half we weren't good enough but at half-time the coach told us to push and play harder and in the second half we were much more active," said the 29-year-old defender. "We scored two goals and we had a chance to score more."
Dordoi will be hoping to maintain both the intensity and the goals in another make-or-break clash against 2018 finalists Altyn Asyr FC on June 19, before they return to Bishkek for their final group stage clash against FC Khujand a week later.
